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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08122014 - C.96RECOMMENDATION(S): FIND that the public purpose is served by donating surplus computer equipment directly to persons receiving public benefits under the CalFresh, CalWORKS, General Assistance, or Medi-Cal programs; and, FIND that low income residents of Contra Costa County need internet access to facilitate pursuing employment, education, helping children with school work, and to assist in obtaining access to medical care and social services; and, FIND that providing these residents with a personal computer and internet access will help provide the same or similar access as enjoyed by others; and, FIND that the Employment and Human Services Department has established the terms and conditions for receipt of donations; and, APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to execute a contract (MOU) with Oakland Schools Foundation, a non-profit organization, for the purpose of donating surplus computers, for the period of July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2016. This program does not have a cost. APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 08/12/2014 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor Contact: Elaine Burres, 313-1717 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: August 12, 2014 David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: Chris Heck, Deputy cc: C. 96 To:Board of Supervisors From:Kathy Gallagher, Employment & Human Services Director Date:August 12, 2014 Contra Costa County Subject:Surplus Computer Equipment Donation FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact to the County other than some amount of staff time to maintain a list of eligible recipients and coordinate the pick up or delivery of surplus personal computers (PCs) to the contractor. The donated PCs have no mondatory value, as the hard drives have been removed and destroyed. BACKGROUND: Assembly Bill No. 1998, Chapter 245, Statutes of 2013 amended the Government Code to allow the Board of Supervisors to authorize County Welfare Directors (Director, Employment and Human Services) to donate surplus computer equipment directly to persons receiving public benefits under CalFresh, CalWORKS, Medi-Cal, or General Assistance. To accomplish this, the Employment and Human Services (EHSD) Director will develop and maintain a list of public benefits recipients eligible to and wishing to receive a surplus personal computer (PC), establish a fair and impartial process by using a random lottery, and ensure that the PCs are not given to any recipients that are in sanction status or otherwise non-compliant with the rules and regulations of their respective benefits program(s). EHSD has worked with the Oakland Public Education Fund, an organization exempt from taxation pursuant to Sections 501 (c) (3), on an agreement to distribute surplus PCs. The organization is the fiscal sponsor for OTX West which refurbishes PCs for deployment under a program called East Bay Connects. East Bay connects is a program designed to help residents of Contra Costa, Alameda, and Sonoma Counties bridge the digital divide. It provides a total solution for benefits recipients of EHSD by providing a refurbished PC, Internet access, training, and maintenance service. New broadband subscribers will receive access to a no or lowest cost broadband subscription, a free PC, free digital literacy training and free technical support for one year. Current broadband subscribers can receive a PC at low cost and free digital literacy training and free technical support for one year. The EHSD Director will maintain a list of people receiving public benefits that have requested to have his/her name placed on the list to receive a surplus computer: 1) The EHSD Director will establish a fair and impartial selection process using a random lottery. 2) The EHSD Director will not donate computer to anyone receiving public benefits that is in sanction status or otherwise noncompliance with the rules and regulations of his/her benefits program. 3) The EHSD Director will require that the recipient of a surplus computer sign an agreement that prohibits the recipient from selling the equipment. 4) Surplus computers provided by Contra Costa County under this agreement must have their hard drives removed and destroyed to ensure that all personal and confidential information is removed from the computers. The EHSD Director is requesting Board of supervisors' authority to enter into an agreement with the Oakland Schools Foundation, an organization exempt from taxation pursuant to Section 501(C) (3), the fiscal sponsor for OTX West which refurbishes personal computers under a program called East Bay Connects to make working computers available to public benefits recipients. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: If this action is not approved, EHSD will not create this donation program and recipients of Public Benefits under CalFresh, CalWORKS, General Assistance, or Medi-Cal programs will not enjoy benefits available to most citizens of Contra Costa County and will continue to struggle with pursuing employment, education, helping children with school work,and to assist in obtaining address to medical care and social services. CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: This action supports three of the community outcomes established in the Children's Report Card: 1) "Children Ready for and Succeeding in School"; 2) "Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood"; and, 3) "Families that are Economically Self Sufficient" by assisting low income residents of the County to access needed social services and medical care.