COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

DATE:

March 5, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

March 27, 2007

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

N/A

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Supervisor Mark Church

SUBJECT:

Domestic Violence Council Membership

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution modifying the membership of the Domestic Violence Council to:

A) include, as a Categorical Member, the Chief Executive Officer of the San Mateo Medical Center or his/her representative

B) include, as an Appointed Member, a representative of the San Mateo County Bar Association who shall be a member of the Private Defender Program

C) clarify the designations of Categorical and Appointed Members.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Responsive, effective and collaborative government

Goal 22: County and local governments effectively communicate, collaborate and develop strategic approaches to issues affecting the entire County.

BACKGROUND:

On January 25, 2007, the Domestic Violence Council voted to modify its membership to include the San Mateo Medical Center as a permanent voting member, to add as an Appointed Member a representative of the County Bar Association who is a member of the San Mateo County Private Defender Program, and to clarify the designations of Categorical Members and Appointed Members.

DISCUSSION:

The Domestic Violence Council’s recommendation to change its membership to include the San Mateo Medical Center as a Categorical Member reflects the separation of the San Mateo Medical Center from the Health Department. The Health Department is currently represented on the Domestic Violence Council as a Categorical Member.

The Domestic Violence Council’s recommendation to add, as an Appointed Member, a representative of the San Mateo County Bar Association who is a member of the San Mateo County Private Defender Program is a result of its desire to be more compliant with California Penal Code Section 14143, which states that each county task force shall include, to the extent possible, a representative of the Public Defender Program and the County Bar Association. Since San Mateo County has no Public Defender Program, representation from the County Private Defender program fulfills this requirement to the fullest extent possible.

Additionally, the Domestic Violence Council recommends that the appointed and categorical membership be clarified, which is reflected in the proposed resolution.

FISCAL IMPACT:

None.