Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio in support of record-sealing and re-entry activities.
Opportunity Port is an online tool that connects justice-involved persons in Franklin County with limited-scope legal service providers who assist with the record sealing and expungement application process. The Legal Aid Society helps connect individuals with this resource in addition to a variety of other re-entry services for Central Ohio residents.
These activities are ongoing, therefore this grant agreement shall authorize reimbursement of expenses dating back to April 1st, 2024. The term of the grant agreement shall be through June 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this grant agreement is available within the Job Growth subfund.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio; and to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Job Growth subfund. ($165,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the existence of criminal records hinders the equitable growth and success of Columbus as a whole; and
WHEREAS, one in three American adults has a criminal record that will appear on a routine background check, the effect of which disproportionately impacts people of color and lower-income individuals; and
WHEREAS, according to a University of Michigan study, record sealing has been shown to increase an individual’s earnings by 25% along with other positive impacts; and
WHEREAS, Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio provides a variety of re-entry services to Central Ohio residents, including record sealing assistance; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio, in an amount of up to $165,000.00, in support of re-entry services including record sealing assistance.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $165,000.00 in the Job Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That per the action authorized in Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $165,000.00, or so much thereof as necessary, is hereby authorized in the Job Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That expenses incurred on or after April 1, 2024 may be reimbursed.
SECTION 7. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.