Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Williams
Department: Human Services Division: Community Partnerships
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO APPROVE Second Amendment to Agreement No. 24-CP-HCS-2199-01 between Broward County and Broward Behavioral Health Coalition, Inc. in the amount of $500,000 to add a recurring program for diversion services for individuals experiencing mental illness while incarcerated, effective November 22, 2024, through September 30, 2025; authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute same; and authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the Agreement as amended.
B. MOTION TO APPROVE waiver of conflict under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, for the following Broward County advisory board member holding an employment or contractual relationship with an entity receiving funds for the performance of services under this agenda item: Silvia Quintana.
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Why Action is Necessary
A. Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”) approval is required for agreements with external agencies.
B. A waiver of conflict arising under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, requires two-thirds approval by the Commission.
What Action Accomplishes
Adoption of Motion A enables one additional recurring program to be added to the Agreement as requested by Broward Behavioral Health Coalition, Inc. (“BBHC”) for diversion services for individuals experiencing mental illness while incarcerated to reduce state hospital commitments, facilitate treatment engagement, ensure housing stability, maximize benefits enrollment, and improve community reintegration for nonviolent mentally ill incarcerated offenders.
Approval of Motion B waives the existence of any conflicts arising under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, as authorized under applicable law.
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Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
These actions support the Commission’s value of “building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives” and the goal of “delivering accessible human services that holistically address the whole person collaboratively and compassionately.” The Second Amendment adds a recurring program for diversion services for individuals experiencing mental illness while incarcerated to reduce state hospital commitments, facilitate treatment engagement, ensure housing stability, maximize benefits enrollment, and improve community reintegration for nonviolent mentally ill incarcerated offenders.
Broward County and BBHC entered into the original Agreement for Consultation Services for the Post-Arrest Jail Diversion Program for Improved Community Reintegration on September 9, 2024.
On October 15, 2024, during the Fiscal Year 2025 Adopted Operating Budget Meeting, the Commission approved an increase in operating expenses for mental health jail diversion services. The Post Arrestee Jail Diversion Agreement between Broward County and BBHC, in the amount of $1,000,000 was retroactively increased to $1,500,000 for diversion services for individuals experiencing mental illness while incarcerated.
This item requests Commission approval to add $500,000 to Option Period 1 of the Agreement for diversion services for individuals experiencing mental illness while incarcerated, effective November 22, 2024, through September 30, 2025.
This Second Amendment (Exhibit 1) has been reviewed and approved as to form by the County Attorney’s Office.
Approval of this item would give rise to certain employment conflicts under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, which provides that "no public officer... shall have or hold any employment or contractual relationship with any business entity... which is... doing business with an agency of which he or she is an officer or employee." In accordance with 112.313(12), Florida Statutes, Commission approval is required to waive any conflict of interest arising under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes. An effective waiver requires two-thirds vote of the Commission after disclosure of the conflicting relationship (Motion B) in accordance with Section 112.313(12), Florida Statutes. Form 4A, Disclosure of Business Transaction, Relationship, or Interest, is attached as Exhibit 2 and constitutes full disclosure of any existing conflict.
Source of Additional Information
Cassandra L. Evans, Director, Community Partnerships Division, (954) 357-6398
Jessica Roy, Administrator, Health Care Services, (954) 357-5394
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Funds in the amount of $500,000 are allocated in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 adopted budget.