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Approve the Board of Supervisors' response to the 2025/2026 Civil Grand Jury Report of June 23, 2026, entitled "Solano County's Response to Theft of Health & Social Services Benefits"
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No __X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No __X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve the Board of Supervisors' response to the 2025/2026 Civil Grand Jury Report of June 23, 2026, entitled "Solano County's Response to Theft of Health & Social Services Benefits."
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On June 23, 2026, the Solano County Civil Grand Jury issued a report entitled "Solano County's Response to Theft of Health & Social Services Benefits." As part of its investigation, the Civil Grand Jury examined the role and effectiveness of the Solano County Health & Social Services Department (H&SS) in responding to the large-scale theft of public assistance benefits administered through Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. The investigation focused on the Department's efforts to investigate benefits theft, replace stolen benefits in a timely manner, educate clients on fraud prevention, and coordinate with state and federal partners to address this growing form of organized criminal activity.
Civil Grand Jury members conducted an in-depth review of H&SS policies, procedures, and operational practices related to EBT benefit theft, including the Department's Special Investigations Bureau (SIB), case tracking and reporting methods, reimbursement processing timelines, public outreach efforts, and collaboration with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The investigation also examined the causes of EBT skimming, the impact on vulnerable residents receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, and General Assistance benefits, and the measures implemented to reduce future theft.
After its review, the Civil Grand Jury found that the implementation of chip-enabled EBT cards has significantly r...
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