To: Board of Supervisors
From: Diana Becton, District Attorney
Report Title: FY2024-25 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 $750,000 to fund a Wage Theft Prevention Unit for the period August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
If approved, the County will receive up to $750,000 for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 from the State. No County match is required.
BACKGROUND:
In July 2023, per AB 102, the State of California appropriated $18 million to the DIR to implement a Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant Program. The LCO will administer this grant. This program will provide grants totaling $8,550,000 statewide in FY 2024-2025 to eligible public prosecutors throughout the state.
The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office is applying for grant funding 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 Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant funding to assist in addressing the wage theft and labor trafficking issues in the County.