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C. 26

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Robin Lipetzky, Public Defender
Date:	June 20, 2017

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Proposition 47 Defense Outreach Program

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 06/20/2017

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
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Richard Loomis, 925-335-8093

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: June 20, 2017
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

Public Defender's Office (0243): APPROVE Appropriations and Revenue Adjustment No. 5095 authorizing new revenue in the amount of $50,000 from the San Francisco Foundation and appropriating it to fund temporary clerical help for the Proposition 47 Outreach Program.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This grant will fund the continuation of salary and statutory employment benefit charges for two (2) temporary clerks. There is no requirement for matching funds by the County, and the grant will not increase Net County Cost. Anticipated grant revenues will be received in 2016-17 and expended in FY 2016-17 and FY 2017-18.


$50,000 in new revenue from the San Francisco Foundation

FISCAL IMPACT: (CONT'D)

$50,000 appropriated for salary and benefit expenses for temporary help.

BACKGROUND:

At its meeting on February 14, 2017, the Board of Supervisors authorized the Public Defender to apply for and accept a grant renewal with the San Francisco Foundation to fund continuation of the Proposition 47 Outreach Program. The Office of the Public Defender received funding from this private foundation in each of the past two Budget Years, and based on the success of the Department's efforts additional funding is available for renewal of the grant.

Proposition 47 legislation reclassifies some non-serious and non-violent drug crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. The Contra Costa Public Defender's Office has become a statewide leader in this work.

The job duties performed by these temporary employees include, the following services/activities:

Client Intake,
Review of closed cases for eligibility,
Drafting and filing of petitions,
Preparing files for Court Hearings,
Client Communication and Notifications,
Conducting of Public Outreach/Education events.

Diligent solicitation of supplemental funding from non-profit foundations has resulted in the award of grant revenues to augment the public funding commitment to pursue this important work.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If the new revenue and appropriations are not authorized and approved, the Public Defender's Office will not have access to the additional staffing needed to provide legal services to eligible defendants.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

None.