Subject:
Title
Interlocal Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding with the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida for County-Funded Court Employees
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the Interlocal Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding with the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida (Court) for County-Funded Court Employees.
• The Interlocal Agreement outlines the County’s and the Court's respective responsibilities for additional court personnel to assist in the operation of the Sixth Judicial Circuit.
• The Memorandum of Understanding provides for court personnel funded through grant awards to Pinellas County for the operation of Court programs.
• These are continuation agreements that will be in effect from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2028. The Board of County Commissioners (Board) approved the previous agreements on May 19, 2020, under Legistar 20-633A, and they will expire on June 30, 2024.
• The Board approves the annual budget for the Court, which includes appropriations for additional county-funded court personnel to support efficient and effective court operations.
• Funding for this Interlocal Agreement is included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Adopted Budget of the Judiciary in the General Fund. Funding for the second year of this agreement is included in the requested FY25 Budget submission. Funding for future years will likely be requested in future budgets.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener, and purchaser of services for those in need
Summary:
Summary
The Interlocal Agreement provides funding for additional court personnel to assist in the operation of the Sixth Judicial Circuit. The county-funded court employees are assigned to the following divisions: Court Technology, Behavioral Evaluations, Juvenile Diversion, Drug Court, Law Library, and Family Court.
The MOU provides for Court personnel funded through grants awarded to Pinellas County to be hired as county-funded court employees. These employees provide support for specialty court programs such as Family Dependency Treatment Court and Adult Drug Court Enhancement grant awards.
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Background Information:
The applicable laws that provide for the establishment of the original Interlocal Agreement are Article V, Sections 2(a) and (14), Florida Constitution, and Chapters 29 and 43, Florida Statutes. Under Florida Statute Section 29.0081, a County may enter into an agreement to fund personnel positions to assist in the operation of the Court. This Interlocal Agreement and MOU do not commit Pinellas County to specific funding levels for this assistance. The Board ratified the active Interlocal Agreement allowing for County-Funded Court employees on May 19, 2020, and it will expire on June 30, 2024.
Fiscal Impact:
The Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Adopted Budget for the Judiciary includes operational and administrative support for the Circuit and County Courts within Pinellas County. Based on the current budget, the total value of this agreement is $4,403,960.00 for forty-six (46.3) full-time positions. The Board provides funding for statutorily required positions, communications, technology, and certain local option programs pursuant to Article V, Revision 7 of the State Constitution. Funding is included in the FY24 Adopted Budget for the Judiciary in the General Fund.
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
Attachments:
Interlocal
MOU