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...
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