Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Williams
Department: Human Services Division: Community Partnerships
Information
Requested Action
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A. MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution providing funding for certain services, the title of which is as follows:
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATION AND DISBURSEMENT OF U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION RYAN WHITE FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,390,342 FOR RYAN WHITE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 TO SPECIFIED SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR THE PROVISION OF HOUSING AND CARE SUPPORT SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV IN BROWARD COUNTY; AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE NEW AGREEMENTS WITH THE SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND TAKE ALL NECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUDGETARY ACTIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE AGREEMENTS; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ACTION: (T-10:40 AM) Approved Resolution No. 2023-263.
VOTE: 9-0.
B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution within the Ryan White Part A Grant Fund to allocate unobligated grant award funds, consistent with the Notice of Award issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration.
ACTION: (T-10:40 AM) Approved Resolution No. 2023-264.
VOTE: 9-0.
C. 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: Rafael F. Jimenez.
ACTION: (T-10:40 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 9-0.
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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. Section 129.06(2)(d), Florida Statutes, requires a budget Resolution to recognize revenue.
C. 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 Motions A and B authorizes funding for agencies to assist the Human Services Department in providing housing and care support services to individuals living with HIV in Broward County.
Approval of Motion C waives the existence of any conflicts arising under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, as authorized under applicable law.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
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 funding supports the provision of housing and care support services to individuals living with HIV in Broward County through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (“HRSA”), Ending the Epidemic: A Plan for America - Ryan White Program (“EHE”).
On October 15, 2019, (Item No. 7), the Commission approved Broward County’s grant application for EHE funds. On June 1, 2021, (Item No. 10), the Commission authorized the County Administrator to execute the grant to continue EHE initiatives and services that reduce new HIV infections for the federal Ryan White 2020 - 2025 grant period.
On September 19, 2022, the Human Services Department issued a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to provide EHE housing and care support services to individuals living with HIV in Broward County. These services improve clients’ social and economic status, thus leading to improved health outcomes. The service providers recommended for funding are based on the RFP results and community needs (Exhibit 1 at Attachment A). The services were advertised with a one-year renewal period to remain aligned with the current HRSA grant agreement, which ends February 28, 2025. On April 14, 2023, HRSA issued a notice of award stating that unobligated EHE Program funds may be used effective March 1, 2023 (Exhibit 3).
Staff will utilize the standard form agreement approved by the Commission on September 8, 2022, (Item No. 3) and the Ryan White Addendum approved by the Commission on August 25, 2020 (Item No. 2). The agreements will be reviewed for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney prior to execution by the County Administrator. As these are new agreements, there are no outcomes to report.
In January 2023, HRSA completed a comprehensive EHE site visit resulting in two findings: (i) funds were not expended within 5% of the total grant award, and (ii) monitoring of service providers had not been completed. These two findings are currently being addressed by staff. Funding for the recommended service providers utilizes the unobligated funds in the amount of $2,390,342. Monitoring of EHE service providers will be completed by August 2023.
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 C) in accordance with Section 112.313(12), Florida Statutes. Form 4A, Disclosure of Business Transaction, Relationship, or Interest, is attached to this report as Exhibit 4 and constitutes full disclosure of any existing conflict.
Source of Additional Information
Efrem Crenshaw, Director, Community Partnerships Division, (954) 357-6398
Jessica Roy, Administrator, Health Care Services, (954) 357-5394
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The EHE funds in the amount of $2,390,342 will be available in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 unobligated Ryan White Part A Grant Fund upon Commission approval (Exhibit 2).