COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Services Agency

 

DATE:

June 17, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

August 5, 2003

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Maureen D. Borland, Director, Human Services Agency

Glen H. Brooks, Jr., Director, Central Region

   

SUBJECT:

Resolution Authorizing Execution of a Third Amendment to the Agreement between the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Merced, Monterey, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and Stanislaus, establishing the Bay Area Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) Consortium

 

Recommendation

Adopt a Resolution authorizing execution of a Third Amendment to the Agreement to the CAPI consortium Agreement.

 

Background

CAPI is a 100% State funded program that provides cash assistance to certain aged, blind and disabled legal immigrants who are not eligible for Supplementary Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) benefits solely due to the immigrant provisions of the Welfare Reform Law. The program is based on the federal regulations used by the Social Security Administration for the SSI program. Grant amounts are $10.00 less than the SSI/SSP levels.

 

The counties of San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Merced, Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and Stanislaus, have collaborated to establish the Bay Area CAPI Consortium. On March 21, 2000, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved the Agreement to establish the Consortium for the period of November 1, 1998 through June 30, 2000. This Agreement has been amended on two previous occasions for the purpose of extending the term and to accept Santa Clara County's withdrawal from the Consortium.

 

Discussion

As the lead County for the Consortium, San Mateo County is responsible for administering the funding for the Consortium. In this capacity, the County of San Mateo receives the State funding for all ten Consortium Counties and administers payments to eligible recipients. The County of San Mateo's responsibility to make payments is contingent upon receipt of funds from the State. However, the State funds have not been paid due to the budget impasse.

 

This Third Amendment allows Consortium Counties to reimburse money to San Mateo County for CAPI payments as the fiscal agent of the consortium in the event of a State budget impasse. When the impasse is resolved, the State will pay the County of San Mateo, which will reimburse the Consortium Counties for their contributions. County Counsel has reviewed and approved this Amendment as to form. Due to this emergency situation, it is requested that the Board of Supervisors sign this Third Amendment while signatures of the other nine Consortium Counties are obtained. The fully executed Third Amendment will be submitted to the County Manager's office as soon as the signatures are received.

 

Vision Alignment

The Agreement with the Consortium Counties for Establishing CAPI keeps the commitment of: Responsive, effective and collaborative government and goal number 22: County and local governments effectively communicate, collaborate and develop strategic approaches to issues affecting the entire County. The Agreement with the Consortium Counties contributes to this commitment and goal by counties working together to administer a program that provides cash assistance and benefits to legal immigrants in need therefore improving their quality of life.

 

Fiscal Impact

This Amendment will incur no Net County Cost. All CAPI payments, administrative costs and other CAPI related expenditures are fully funded by the State. In the event of a State budget impasse, Consortium Counties will advance San Mateo County funds as the consortium's fiscal agent. When the impasse is resolved and the State pays the County of San Mateo, the County will reimburse the Consortium counties.