COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Services Agency

DATE:

April 24, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

May 6, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Maureen Borland, Director, Human Services Agency Director

Yvonne Frazier, Administrator, Alcohol and Other Drug Services

SUBJECT:

Request to increase client fees for Driving Under the Influence programs in San Mateo County

Recommendation

Adopt a Resolution authorizing an increase in client fees for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) programs.

Background

State of California Regulations requires DUI Programs to be self-supporting through client fees. There is currently a need in San Mateo County to increase DUI program client fees due to the rising costs associated with conducting business in San Mateo County. According to providers, DUI program expenses continue to rise, due in part, to a combination factors including personnel costs related to hiring and retaining qualified staff for quality care, utility rates and rental costs. The Board approved a fee increase for DUI Programs in 2001, however, San Mateo County's DUI client fees are still among the lowest in the Bay Area, and are not currently adequate to fully fund DUI program services. The Board of Supervisors is required to approve the fees charged for this service.

Discussion

In 2002, San Mateo County DUI providers served an estimated 1,411 clients in their First Offender Programs (FOP) and 333 clients in their Multiple Offender Programs (MOP). Without an increase in client fees, the level of DUI program services in the County may decrease, which will have negative impacts on the client population and the residents of the County. Additionally, the level of services provided by the DUI programs must remain in compliance with the requirements and regulations mandated at the local, state, and federal level. The fee increase will allow providers to maintain compliance and to continue to provide quality services.

The proposed DUI client fees represent a nine percent increase in all services areas except for the six month FOP. The DUI providers have not requested the fee increase in that service area. In addition to the request to increase client fees for services, the providers have requested to add new types of ancillary fees. The proposed increases in client and ancillary fees will allow the providers to maintain the level of services that are currently being provided in San Mateo County.

Proposed San Mateo County Fee Increases with Comparisons to other Bay Area Counties

Program

SMC Current

SMC Proposed

Santa Clara

SF

Alameda

Marin

Santa Cruz

Wet & Reckless *FOP

225

252

256

255

375

422

252

3 month FOP

500

576

571

575

620

572

591

6 month FOP

903

No Increase

897

769

N/A

1105

714

12 month **MOP

1383

1550

1587

1650

1750

1525

1557

18 month MOP

1470

1645

N/A

1723

N/A

1975

1854

*First Time Offender Program

** Multiple Offender Program

Ancillary fees currently approved by the County for DUI Providers

·

$50 Transfer in/out fee

·

$15 Duplicate completion certificate

·

$10 Late fee

·

$20 Non-Sufficient Funds

·

$20 Missed activity

Proposed additional ancillary fees

·

$ 5 fee for additional face-to-face counseling for the MOP. Recent California Title 9 changes allow Multiple Offender Programs to charge for any additional face to face counseling sessions

·

$20 Leave of Absence (LOA) fee. This fee will assist in funding the required reporting to Sacramento DMV, Court Systems and Probation, when a client fails to attend the program. Three DUI providers in San Mateo County would like to charge this ancillary fee and two providers do not wish to. The request from the DUI Providers team, with the support from AOD is to allow providers to charge this fee and those who do not wish to have the option not to.

·

$20 Non Enrollment Transfer Fee. This fee will help to cover expenses associated with Court approved transfers between DUI programs.

The State of California Title 9 regulation section 9878(a) states that the program shall charge only the program fees and any additional fees, which have been recommended by the County Alcohol and Drug Administrator, approved by County Board of Supervisors and by the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs.

The Alcohol and Drug Services Administrator, with support from the Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board has agreed to the fee increase with pending approval from the Board of Supervisors and the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. The need is recognized for the fee increase in view of the heightened increased cost of doing business. This increase would bring San Mateo County's Program fees into the fee range of the surrounding counties, which have similar demographics and costs of doing business.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Board Memo and Resolution as to form.

Vision Alignment

DUI program services keep the commitment of realizing the potential of the County's vulnerable population and goal number 8: To help vulnerable people achieve a better quality of life. The provision of DUI services contributes to this commitment and goal by providing alcohol and drug treatment and education services to probationers and parolees, and individuals at risk of continuing to drive under the influence without intervention.

Fiscal Impact

There are no Net County Costs associated with the request to increase DUI client and ancillary fees. San Mateo County does not pay for services provided by the DUI Programs. Providers pay the County a 10% monitoring fee for First Offenders and an 8% monitoring fee for Multiple Offenders. The monitoring fee paid to the County, will increase with the client fee increase.