Action 9.
Regular Board of Supervisors Meeting
Indigent Defense
- Meeting Date:
- 11/30/2021
- Title:
- Position request for Legal Advocate Office
- Submitted By:
- Sharon Gilman, Board of Supervisors
- Department:
- Board of Supervisors
Presentation:
No A/V Presentation
Recommendation:
Approve
Document Signatures:
BOS Signature Required
# of ORIGINALS
Submitted for Signature:
Submitted for Signature:
0
NAME
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Richard Karwaczka
TITLE
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
County Administrator
Docket Number (If applicable):
Mandated Function?:
Not Mandated
Source of Mandate
or Basis for Support?:
or Basis for Support?:
Information
Agenda Item Text:
Approve the addition of one Position Control Number to the total positions in the Office of Legal Advocate, utilizing funds from Title-IV E (Indigent Defense) reimbursements, for the purpose of improving parent and/or child representation in dependency cases.
Background:
Per an Interagency Agreement between the Arizona Department of Child Safety, the Arizona Supreme Court, the Administrative Office of the Courts, and the County, the County currently receives partial reimbursement for costs associated with the legal representation in dependency cases. To date, the county has approximately $82,000 in the Title IV-E fund. The County can utilize these funds to expand, enhance or develop initiatives that improve the ability of attorneys to manage their dependency caseload, including the hiring of attorneys or paralegals.
Adding this new PCN would allow for the existing attorney in the Office of Legal Advocate (OLA) and the new position to manage time conflicts in court hearings, family meetings, foster care hearings, and other related meetings. It would also enable the two employees to share home visits, especially when they are out of the county.
The position would begin at a salary rate of $55,000, plus EREs, for a total cost of $66,000 annually for the next 7 months of the fiscal year. All future employment would be contingent on the availability of funds in Title IV-E, similar to grant-funded positions.
Adding this new PCN would allow for the existing attorney in the Office of Legal Advocate (OLA) and the new position to manage time conflicts in court hearings, family meetings, foster care hearings, and other related meetings. It would also enable the two employees to share home visits, especially when they are out of the county.
The position would begin at a salary rate of $55,000, plus EREs, for a total cost of $66,000 annually for the next 7 months of the fiscal year. All future employment would be contingent on the availability of funds in Title IV-E, similar to grant-funded positions.
Department's Next Steps (if approved):
Contact HR to create PCN and forward information to Office of Legal Advocate. Develop wages and benefits budget within G/L 575-0100-0120 - Title IV-E IDC for position.
Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:
Paralegal position will not be funded and dependency caseload management will not be improved.
To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:
Send minutes to Dee Putnam in IDC office for Title IV-E reporting purposes.
Attachments
No file(s) attached.