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Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) reclassifying grant-funded expenditures of $94,555 under the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) County Victim Services (XC) Grant Program to reclassify appropriations from Salaries and Benefits to Services & Supplies and Fixed Asset - Equipment to purchase office furniture, copiers and printers, and renewal of Justware case management system licenses for the Solano Family Justice Center (SFJC), in order to fully expend grant funds prior to the December 31, 2019 expiration
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No __X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No __X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The District Attorney’s Office (DA) recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) reclassifying grant-funded expenditures of $94,555 under the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) County Victim Services (XC) Grant Program to reclassify appropriations from Salaries and Benefits to Services & Supplies and Fixed Asset - Equipment to purchase office furniture, copiers and printers, and renewal of Justware case management system licenses for the Solano Family Justice Center (SFJC) in order to fully expend grant funds prior to the December 31, 2019 expiration.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The purpose of the XC Program is to provide one-time funding to help fill gaps and needs in victim services. The grant required the implementation of a “Victim Services Steering Committee” (VSSC) to identify these needs in Solano County, with required membership of various County departments, law enforcement agencies, and educational and health care providers. Once established, the VSSC, over a series of meetings, identified and agreed to address the following crime victim service gaps and needs:
• Increase victim advocacy on middle and high school campuses in Solano County.
• Create a multi-disciplinary approach to helping elders who are subject to undue physical and mental abuse.
• Increase support for crime victims seeking protection orders through advocacy.
• Increase the amount of non-acute sexual assault examinations for child victims.
• Increase resources for crime victims that address the immediate health and safety concerns at the time an incident of violence occurs.
• Increase courtroom advocacy through Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in foster care as the result of being victims of abuse and neglect.
• Create a multi-disciplinary approach to addressing the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children.
On December 6, 2016, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution accepting the California Office of Emergency Service (CalOES) County Victim Services (XC) Grant Program to fund services to fill crime victim service gaps and needs in the community. The current grant award period is from July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2019.
In order to fully expend grant funds prior to this December 31, 2019 date, the DA’s Office is recommending that these grant funds be revised and appropriations reclassified to allow for the one-time purchase of fixed assets of office furniture and services and supplies of copiers and printers, and Justware licenses for the Solano Family Justice Center (SFJC) that will meet service gaps and needs by supporting partners at the Center. The office furniture will be used by SFJC staff and on-site partners as work spaces and meeting spaces for clients. The copiers and printers will create more print stations for SFJC staff and on-site partners. The Justware licenses allow for SFJC staff to access the District Attorney’s Office case management system when assisting victims of crime.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There will be no financial impact to the County General Fund as these are grant funds being used for one-time purchases. These expenditures were not included in the Department’s FY2019/20 budget because the Department received approval from CalOES to modify the grant until October 18, 2019.
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2019/20 Adopted Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board can choose not to approve the ATR. This may prevent Solano County from fully expending grant funding from CalOES and may affect its potential to receive future awards from these agencies.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION