1. Authorize the County Administrator to sign an agreement (Attachment A) with Yolo Superior Court for reimbursement of legal services provided in child welfare actions, including actions arising under Welfare & Institutions Code Section 300; and
    
2. Adopt and authorize the Chair of the Board to sign the attached budget resolution (Attachment B) appropriating funds relating to the agreement.

Under state law, in certain circumstances, the County provides an attorney to individuals (including parents and children) involved in child welfare actions.  The attorneys are selected from the Indigent Defense Panel administered by the Office of the County Counsel. 

The Yolo Superior Court reimburses attorneys' fees and other costs associated with the services provided by these attorneys in child welfare actions.  Typically, the amount of reimbursement has fallen short of the County's actual costs (in recent years, by about 25%).  This fiscal year, however, the Yolo Superior Court has increased the reimbursement cap from $320,000 to $400,000, which is expected to cover (or nearly cover) the full cost of legal services provided by County-appointed attorneys in child welfare proceedings.  The $400,000 figure represents the full amount the Yolo Superior Court is authorized by the Judicial Council of California to pay to the County in reimbursement for these services.

On these grounds, the Office of the County Counsel requests that the Board authorize the County Administrator to sign the attached reimbursement agreement.

This item was prepared in collaboration with the Yolo Superior Court.