Explanation
This ordinance transfers $340,000 from Fund 010 General Fund Department 25 to Fund 226 Subfund 004 Municipal Court Special Programs, Specialty Docket. The Specialty Docket consists of three programs, the Solicitation Program, the Addiction Program and the Military and Veteran's Court Program. The Solicitation Program Specialty Docket, Changing Actions To Change Habits (CATCH Program), is intended to provide a mechanism to promote effective treatment as an alternative to incarceration for a person whose multiple solicitation arrests, summons and charges have negatively impacted the person's quality of life and community safety. Many of these individuals have a history of multiple arrests, criminal behavior, drug addiction, poverty and being victimized as a result of soliciting. The CATCH Program requires limited court involvement in treatment planning and compliance, which should result in more effective utilization of other court and county resources.
The Addiction Program Specialty Docket (APSD) provides a mechanism to promote effective treatment as an alternative to incarceration for a person whose arrests, summons and charges are associated with alcohol and/or chemical dependence (AOD), which negatively impact the person's quality of life and community safety. Many of these individuals have a history of multiple arrests, typically OMVI, criminal behavior, drug addiction, poverty and transient housing. The APSD requires limited court involvement in treatment planning and compliance, which should result in more effective utilization of other county and court resources.
The Military and Veteran Specialty Docket is intended to promote effective treatment as an alternative to incarceration for people whose criminal charges may be directly or indirectly connected to military service or combat. The arrests, summons, and charges obtained by these individuals have a negative impact on their quality of life and the safety of the community. Many of these individuals will have suffered from drug addiction, poverty, and a lack of community support. The Military and Veteran Service Specialty Docket Program requires limited court involvement in treatment planning and compliance, which should result in more effective utilization of other court and county resources.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Transfer funds from the General Fund for continued funding of the Municipal Court's Specialty Docket Program. Contingent upon approvalof City budget Ordinance 2630-2013.
EMERGENCY: Emergency action is requested to fund the program
Title
To authorize and direct the City Auditor to authorize the transfer of $340,000.00 from the General Fund, Dept 25 to fund the specialty docket.; and to declare an emergency ($340,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The Franklin County Municipal Court operates the Specialty Docket which consists of three programs (CATCH, ADAP and Military and Veteran) to help ensure that an adequate treatment response is accessible to defendants exhibiting histories of alcohol and /or chemical dependence, and;
WHEREAS, $340,000 from the General Fund, Department 25 to be transferred to the Municipal Court Judges in order to continue to support the Specialty Court Docket Program; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges in that it is immediately necessary to transfer the funds in order to assure the continuation of the specialty docket, thereby preserving the public peace, property, health, safety, and welfare; Now, Therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor be authorized to transfer $340,000 as follows:
From:
Fund 010 General Fund, Dept 25, OCA 250191, OL3 5501
To:
Fund 226 Subfund 004 Municipal Court Special Programs, Specialty Docket, OCA 226004, OL3 0886.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes necessary to ensure that these transactions are properly accounted for and recorded accurately on the city's financial records
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.