To: Board of Supervisors
From: Diana Becton, District Attorney
Report Title: FY2025-26 Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant Application
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the District Attorney, or designee, to apply for and accept the Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant from the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO) in an amount not to exceed $700,000 to fund a Wage Theft Prevention Unit for the period August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
If approved, the County will receive up to $700,000 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 from the State. No County match is required.
BACKGROUND:
In July 2023, per AB102, the State of California appropriated $18 million to the DIR to implement a Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant Program. The LCO administers this grant. This program will provide grant funding in FY 2025-2026 to eligible public prosecutors throughout the state.
The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office is applying for grant funding in FY25-26 to continue to support a Wage Theft Prevention Unit to assist workers in combatting wage theft, to investigate and prosecute labor trafficking, and to prevent unfair competition. Grant funded activities may include evidence gathering, investigations, coordination with community organizations and law enforcement entities, criminal and/or civil prosecutions, resolutions, appeals, and settlements.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The District Attorney will be unable to apply for or receive the FY25-26 Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant funding to assist in addressing the wage theft and labor trafficking issues in the county.