Agenda

Return

C. 62

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	David O. Livingston, Sheriff-Coroner
Date:	February 28, 2023

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

California Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program FY 2023-2024

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 02/28/2023

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Ken Carlson, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Donn David, 925-655-0037

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: February 28, 2023
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT Resolution No. 2023/54 authorizing the Sheriff Coroner, or designee, to apply for and accept the California Highway Patrol Grant Fiscal Year 2023-2024, in an amount not to exceed $100,000 for the purchase of consumables for support of laboratory testing capabilities for the period of July 1, 2023, through the end of the grant funding.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Up to an initial amount of $100,000 in California State Highway Patrol Revenue. There is no County in kind match requirement.

BACKGROUND:

The Contra Costa County, Office of the Sheriff, Forensic Services Division (FSD) operates an ISO 17025 ANAB Accredited Crime Laboratory able to provide County-wide Forensic Toxicological testing services.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The FSD’s Toxicology Unit is responsible for the analysis of blood and urine evidence for driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) cases. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program funds are needed to ensure efficient processing and analysis of DUID-related offenses. The CHP Cannabis Tax Fund Grant will be used to purchase consumables for both current LC-MS/MS methods and validation of new confirmation methods. The funding of consumables will support the FSD in providing comprehensive information on DUID cases, while eliminating the need to send evidence to an outside laboratory. Expansion of testing capabilities will allow the FSD to meet current and future DUID guidelines for drug assays as required by national standards, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the National Safety Council. Combining multiple analytes into a single confirmation will also result in a decreased turnaround time.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Without the expansion of comprehensive confirmation methods, many requests for analysis will be sent to an accredited outside laboratory. Analysis performed by an outside laboratory creates an increased prosecution burden and cost to Contra Costa County law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney’s Office.