HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06211988 - 1.41 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: JAMES A. RYDINGSWORD Contra
Social Service Department Costa
DATE: June 6, 1988 % rity
SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR SB 2485 - TORRES, AS AMENDED, "ALIENS - REFUGEE �� �"`��
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS"
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION`
RECOMMENDATION•
That the Board of Supervisors support SB 2485 - Torres, as
amended, to provide State funding to Counties for
administrative costs in the Refugee Demonstration Project
(RDP) and in the Refugee Cash Assistance Program where Federal
funds are inadequate to cover local incurred costs, and
That the Board authorize the Chair to send letters to the
County's legislative delegation, and to the Governor,
supporting SB 2485.
BACKGROUND:
In late May, 1988 CSAC requested that Boards of Supervisors
oppose the proposed elimination of the Refugee Demonstration
Project (RDP) and the Refugee Cash Assistance program (RCA) .
On June 7th, your Board adopted such a resolution opposing the
elimination of these refugee assistance programs. Elimination
of these programs will increase Contra Costa County's local
costs by an estimated $387, 000 (RCA) and $1, 237, 000 (RDP) .
Amendments to SB 2485 will require the State to cover
administrative costs for these refugee assistance programs as
the Federal government reduces its funding.
Specifically, SB 2485 was amended to include the following
language:
If federal administrative funds are inadequate to fund
costs incurred in the administration of the Refugee Cash
Assistance Demonstration Project assistance provided to
time-eligible recipients, the department shall provide
that funding.
x
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RE OM ENDA N OF ITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON JUN APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED x OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT �^ ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS O11N, j�
THE DATE SHOWN.
JUN
C C: Social Service Dept. - Louise Aiello ATTESTED 2 1 e
County Administrator Phil Batchelor, Clerk OI the e08rd of
Senator Art Torres S Pr9fV Qr6andQUntyAdmid*ata
Ralph Heim, Jackson/Barish iwa
M382/7-ea BY �/ ' DEPUTY
SB 2485 2 6/6/88
The Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Medical
Assistance components of the Refugee Resettlement Program
are federally funded programs established pursuant to the
Refugee Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-212) , as amended.
Federal funding is provided for the administrative costs
of cash and medical assistance during the refugee's
eligibility for those components.
If federal administrative funds are inadequate to fund
costs incurred in the administration of cash assistance
provided to time-eligible refugees, the department and
each county shall equally share those costs.
If administrative funds are inadequate to fund costs
incurred in the administration of medical assistance
provided to time-eligible refugees, the State Department
of Health Services shall provide that funding.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Federal reductions in funding for RDP and RCA combined
with the proposed elimination, by the State, of the RDP and
RCA programs would shift increased costs to Contra Costa
County totalling approximately $1, 624, 000 (RDP and RCA
combined) .
SB 2485, as amended, would split the costs for RCA, after July
1st, so that the State would cover 50% of the administrative
costs. Thus, our County's increased costs would be $196, 000
instead of $387, 000.
SB 2485, as amended, would also require the State to cover
100% of the administrative costs for RDP from July 1 to
September 30, 1988. The amendments require the State to
retain RDP which will ensure Federal reimbursement of local
costs; it is anticipated that after October 1st, the Federal
formula will allow 100% reimbursement to Counties.
The State funding formula to be established by SB 2485 will
require counties to cover 100% of the administrative costs
related to time eligible refugee General Assistance clients.
Contra Costa's estimated costs would increase by approximately
$75, 000 for FY 88-89 with this part of the formula.
The amendments to SB 2485 would increase Contra Costa County's
local costs by approximately $271, 000; without enactment of SB
2485, our costs will increase by $1. 6 million.
LA2/sb2485.doc