Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Manager
Justin W. Mates, Deputy County Manager
Subject: Measure K: Resolution approving a second amendment to the agreement with Legal Aid Society of San Mateo for Legal Services Agencies Supporting Immigrants Residing in San Mateo County
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution approving a second amendment to the agreement with Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County to provide continued legal services supporting immigrant residents of San Mateo County, extending the term through June 30, 2022 and increasing the amount payable under the Agreement by $287,040 to an amount not to exceed $861,120.
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BACKGROUND:
According to the American Community Survey, a third of San Mateo County residents are foreign-born, and many of these residents have children who are United States citizens. These immigrants are important to the vitality of our community and to the San Mateo County economy. Given current conditions, the County has identified a continuing need for legal services to support immigrants in the community.
These needed services include legal workshops providing immigrants with information on topics such as their rights, the path to citizenship, and immigration benefits (e.g., relief for crime victims, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA), Special Immigrant Juveniles, Asylum, removal defense).
In addition, the needed services involve brief individual consultations and assistance to screen immigrants for potential benefits and to make appropriate legal referrals.
Finally, such needed services include assisting immigrants in applying for certain forms of immigration relief, such as special immigrant juvenile status (for abused and abandoned youth), U visas (for crime victims), and DACA benefits, and with responding to immediate and initial needs of immigrants and families affected by enforcement operations (e.g., assisting in locating detained family members, negotiations relating to bond, and assistance with bond hearings and legal referrals).
The County of San Mateo has contracted with the Legal Aid Society to provide the services described above since 2017, owing to Legal Aid’s familiarity with the legal needs of San Mateo County residents, their long experience working with these populations, and their ability to continue providing these services without interruption.
DISCUSSION:
In recent years, rhetoric and actions out of Washington D.C. and throughout the United States have continued to cause fear and uncertainty among the County’s immigrant population. The County has remained informed on the challenges and fear within our immigrant community and continue to see a need for consultations and legal services assistance. Moreover, with the current pandemic crisis and economic uncertainty for many, it is important to recognize that access to immigration services remains a critical need for many.
Since July 2017, the Legal Aid Society, working in coordination with partner subcontractor agencies, has hosted 69 workshops both in-person and virtual that have reached over 1,800 individuals and have provided legal representation to over 900 residents of San Mateo County. The most recent contract between the County and the Legal Aid Society for these services was entered into on July 1, 2019, and was amended to extend the term of the agreement through June 30, 2021, and to increase the maximum amount expendable under the agreement to $574, 080.
Given the success of the program and due to the current political and economic climate, there is a continuing need for the services described above, and the Legal Aid Society and its partner agencies remain uniquely suited to provide these services to County residents. During this current crisis with the ongoing pandemic, our most vulnerable community members need support, and that includes continued access to low/no cost immigration legal services. As seen in the past year throughout the pandemic, those with a legal immigration status have far more opportunities for financial stability and economic security than those who do not.
Under these circumstances, staff recommends that the County again amend the existing contract with the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County to further extend its term for one year, through June 30, 2022 and to increase the maximum amount payable thereunder by $287,040, for an amount not to exceed $861,120. The Legal Aid Society subcontracts with partner agencies for some of the services set forth in the agreement.
The amendment and Resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
Summary as of December 31, 2020
|
Measure |
FY 2017-2018 Actual |
FY 2018-2019 Actual |
FY 2019-2020 Actual |
FY 2020-2021 Projected |
|
Legal Representation- Minimum 150 cases |
281 |
295 |
254 |
150 |
|
Individual Consultation- Offered at 4 workshops |
7 |
10 |
22 |
4 |
|
Legal Workshops- Total of 12 provided |
15 workshops |
15 workshops |
30 workshops |
12 workshops |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the Amended Agreement is from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, increasing the Agreement by $287,040 for a new not to exceed amount of $861,120. Appropriation for this Amendment will be included in the County Manager’s Office FY 2021-22 Recommended Budget in June. This contract will be fully funded by Measure K Reserves.