HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04251989 - S.4 %TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS (�
FROM: Supervisor Tom Torlakson Contra
Introduced on April 18, 1989 for Costa
DATE: Board Action on April 25, 1989 County
SUBJECT: UNUSED FEDERAL FUNDS FOR DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Refer to the County Administrator and
the Health Services Director to gather information and provide
a report to the Board of Supervisors about a federal program for drug
abuse prevention under which funding is reportedly not being used by
the state.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: I was extremely upset to learn from
the attached news article which appeared in the April 17 issue of the
Contra Costa Times that California is one of several states that has
not used available federal funds for drug abuse prevention programs .
According to the article, under this federal program which began last
year, $158 million appropriated last year went unused. There remains
$609 million of $806 million appropriated for the current fiscal year,
which began last October.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT. YES SIGNATURE: /
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON April 25, 1989 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 ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED
Health Services Directorpliil...atchelor, Clerk of the Board 0
Supervisors and County Administrator
M382/7.83 BY DEPUTY
ROW--TheTinies Monday, April 17, 1989
FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS
State has not used: available - funds,
j Millions meant `
to aid users or g a
for education
y
By Martin Tolchin /'' 4 *The New York Times
is, �i ;fat ^tea'
'WASHINGTON—Despite a na-
tional
a tional effort to combat illicit drugs,
many states,including California,so r s
far have not used $777 million,in
federal funds avai for efforts
against dnu1�� ,,. t r
s
Unde a program that starte ga' -•x-
last ar, the states are required to
wd
u at least half of the federal mon- $ u
for intravenous drug users.In ad- ; �
dition, 20 percent must go for pre- rp ilk
3• r
vention of or early intervention inoy t
drug abuse and at least 10 percent
r for programs for women.The mo 6 1 p
ey not marked for specific ses
may be used at th uon of the "
e money not used so far in-
cludes$158 million of the$644 mil- t � ¢
lion appropriated in the fiscal years
1988 and $619 million of$806 mil- Off
lion appropriated for the current fis-
cal year,which began last October. * 7 ,; ' ' 'tj..
The money appropriated in fiscal DRUGS include marijuana, balloons of heroin,-.a bottle of,,cocaine a":PCP Giga�ette'and pills*_ .
1988 was available for two years be-
cause the program was new, while Governor's"Association,
the money for fiscal 1989 will be you ou look at thesizeof some,of: '
Under formulaj.California is
,'.•'. ''..
the
available only this year.Both appro- entitled,to.the-most'mgney, $87.3
priations expire Sept. 30 and any these states that have:not'used this money, million for"fiscal;'19$9•while Wyo-
unused money will revert to the fed- — California, New Jersey,`Ohio,'Mar
yland ming woyldtiteceive�&,least, $1.3
1 ral Treasury. — it's inex IIcaD�le': 1up:
in
"We have three-quarters of a bil- P New Jerse is entitled to'$4.5
lion dollars just sitting there,not be- U.S. Sen. Tom'Harkin million for fiscal 198 entitled
and f$4.5,
ing used for education, treatment million for fiscal 1989.
and rehabilitation," said Sen: Tom
Harkin,D-Iowa,chairman of the La- only to pay for certain programs.al- and getting them to spend this mon The'states'that'have'not.applied
bor and and Human Services ready begun by the states. ey," Harkin said. "That just hasn't 'for this year's funds, as of April 3,
l Subcomm'itteehof the Appropriations Federal officials estimated that been done.": when HHS issued its`most recent
t Committee. "When you look at the the money in the program,which is The secretary of health and hu- report; were Hawaii, Maryland,
size of some of these states that the only federal effort to underwrite "' man services,Dr.Louis W.Sullivan, 'Minnesota, Nebraska,-New-Hamp-
have not used this money—Califor state and local efforts for early drug told the subcommittee he would re- shire, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia,
ria,New Jersey,Ohio,Maryland— intervention and rehabilitation, port'back on the reasons for the Washington and Wyoming.
it's inexplicable." would cover about 16 percent of the money not being spent and what the The states that have not spent
Ten states have not even applied cost,with the rest provided by states government was doing to persuade any of last year's funds are Califor- .
for this'year's money, the Depart- and localities. the states to create programs on nia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
inert of Health and Human Services The issue of the unused funds which the money could be used. Missouri, New Jersey, Minnesota,
said.It also said 11 states had failed was raised at a recent subcommittee The states have complained that North Dakota, South Carolina,
J to use last year's money. hearing. Harkin said he could not the federal government keeps. Washington and Wyoming.
j The reasons given for not apply- understand why,despite the nation- changing the allocation formula. In-' ' Bob McHugh, a spokesman'for
ing included a lack of state pro- al attention given to the fight deed, Congress is still engaged in' Gov. Thomas H. Kean of New Jer< -
grams that the federal funds are in- against_ drugs, the states had not fine-tuning, or what it calls techni- sey,said that the state was filing its
tended to help and slow-moving spent, or even applied for, the mil- cal corrections, of those require- application soon. "It's a paperwork
state governments that are confused lions of dollars available in federal ments. problem," McHugh said.
by the federal formulas for allocat- funds.
ing and using the money. "The entire anti-drug effort has Under current law, the amount Minnesota, like New Jersey, has
In addition, some states have focused on interdiction," Harkin of the allocation to a state is based failed both to apply for this year's
new governors and health officials said in an interview after the hear- on such attributes as the size of its money and to use last.year's.
who are unfamiliar with applying ing. "Education., treatment and re- urban population,its population un-
for federal grants.Also,-federal law habilitation have been left.to the .der 18 years of age, the number of. ---
requires that states hold legislative back burner." drug addicts, previous spending on
hearings before they apply for the The senator faulted the federal • programs to fight drugs and the
federal money, and some legisla- government as well as the states. state's tax revenue.
tures have been slow in considering _".There should be a federal leader- "They're still trying to figure out
the issue. ship role, with the government go- the formula," said Nolan Jones, a
The federal money may be used ing out and energizing these states drug specialist with 'the National
'IJ:- BOA4RD OF SUPERVISORS
►�� Contra
FROM: Sunne Wright McPeak
1 699 Costa}
DATE: Introduced April 18 , 1989 for Action County
on April 25 , 1989
SUBJECT: Secure a Fair Share of Unused Federal "Drug War"
` Funds for Contra Costa County
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Request our congressional delegation and appropriate state
authorities to act immediately to secure California' s
allocation of current fiscal year federal funds for the "war
on drugs. " Further, request assistance from our
congressional representatives to secure an assured
allocation of the federal "drug war" dollars for Contra
Costa County for the purpose of (a) augmenting our current
programs in the county for prevention, treatment and law
enforcement (as required under federal law) ; and (b)
developing and implementing our countywide action plan (to
be submitted to the public for review at Drug Summit II) .
BACKGROUND:
According to the attached article, California is one of
several states yet to claim its allocation under a new
federal "war on drugs" program. We need to do whatever
possible to shake loose these dollars for California and
Contra Costa County.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT:_ YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON April 25, 1989 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 ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED
Health Services Director J.R. OLSSON, COUNTY CLERK
AND EX OFFICIO CLERK OF THE BOARD
M382/7-83 BY E DEPUTY
12A--The Times Monday,April 17, 1989
HT AGAINST DRUGSt to has not ufund'sS a o sed - available
Millions meant
to aid users or
for education -
By Martin Tolchln
The New York Times y
WASHINGTON—Despite a na-
tional effort to combat illicit drugs, "
many states,including California,so
far have not used $777 million in
federal funds av ' Lk for efforts
ag�Unde
t dru
a program that starte
la ,the states are required tleast half of the federal mon—
for intravenous drug users.In ad-
dition, 20 percent mustgo for pre-
vention of or early intervention in
drug abuse and at least 10 percent y i°
for programs for women.The mo ;°
ey not marked for specific ses
may be used it th on of the
tates. 1
e money not used so far in-
mi$158 llion of the$644 mil-
lion appro hated in the fiscal year
1988 and $619 million of$806 mil- {: i •'� Tu
lion appropriated for the current 5s-
cal year,which began last October. 4 renes Pile
The money appropriated in fiscal DRUGS include marijuana, balloons of heroin, a bottle of cocaine, 6P cigarette and pills
1988 was available for two years be-
cause the program was new, while Govemor's Association.
the money for fiscal 1989 will be 'When you look at the size of some of Under the formula, California is
available only this year.Both appro• entitled to the most money, $87.3
priations expire Sept. 30 and any these states that have not used this money, million for*fiscal:1989, while Wyo-
unused money will revert to the fed- — California, New Jersey, Ohio, Maryland ming.wptjld Xeceiyefherleast, $1.3
ral Treasury. f t million.'.'
"We have three-quarters of a bil- — its inexplicable
q — U.S. Sen. Tom'Harkin New Jersey is entitled to,$4.5
lion dollars just sitting there,not be million for fiscal 1988,.and $31.5,
ing used for education, treatment million for fiscal 1989.
and rehabilitation," said Sen. Tom only to pay for certain programs al- and getting them to spend this mon- The states that have not lied
Harkin,D-lowa,chairman of the La- pr
bor and Health and Human Services ready begun by the states. ey,' Harkin said. "That just hasn't for this year's funds, as of April 3,
Subcommittee of the Appropriations Federal officials estimated that been done." when HHS issued its most recent
i Committee. "When you look at the the money in the program,which is The secretary of health and hu- report, were Hawaii, Maryland,
size of some of these states that the only federal effort to underwrite man services,Dr.Louis W.Sullivan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hamp-
have not used this money—Califor- state and local efforts for early drug told the subcommittee he would re- shire, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia,
nia,New Jersey,Ohio, Maryland— intervention and rehabilitation, port'back on the reasons for the Washington and Wyoming.
it's inexplicable." would cover about 16 percent of the money not being spent and what the The states that have not spent
Ten states have not even applied cost,with the rest provided by states government was doing to persuade any of last year's funds are Califor-
for this year's money, the Depart- and localities. the states to create programs on nia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
ment of Health and Human Services The issue of the unused funds which the money could be used. Missouri, New Jersey, Minnesota,
said.It also said 11 states had failed was raised at a recent subcommittee The states have complained that North Dakota, South Carolina,
I to use last year's money. hearing. Harkin said he could not the federal government keeps Washington and Wyoming.
The reasons given for not apply- understand why,despite the nation- changing the allocation formula. In-' Bob McHugh, a spokesman for
ing included a lack of state pro- al attention given to the fight deed, Congress is still engaged in Gov, Thomas H. Kean of New Jer-
grams that the federal funds are in- against. drugs, the states had not fine-tuning, or what it calls techni- sey,said that the state was filing its
tended to help and slow-moving spent, or even applied for, the mil- cal corrections, of those require- application soon. "It's a paperwork
state governments that are confused lions of dollars available in federal ments. problem,"McHugh said.
by the federal formulas for allocat- funds. Under current law, the amount
ing and using the money. "The entire anti-drug effort has Minnesota, like New Jersey, has
In addition, some states have focused on interdiction," Harkin of the allocation to a state is based failed both to apply for this year's
new governors and health officials said in an interview after the hear- on such attributes as the size of its money and to use last year's.
who are unfamiliar with applying ing. "Education, treatment and re- urban population,its population un-
for federal grants.Also,-federal law habilitation have been left to the der 18 years of age,the number of —-
requires that states hold legislative back bumer." drug addicts, previous spending on
hearings before they apply for the The senator faulted the federal programs to fight drugs and the
federal money, and some legisla- government as well as the states. state's tax revenue.
tures have been slow in considering . "There should be a federal leader- "They're still trying to figure out
the issue. ship role, with the government go- the formula," said Nolan Jones, a
The federal money may be used ing out and energizing these states drug specialist with the National