BSCC Approves New Prop 47 Grant Process

SACRAMENTO (Nov. 8, 2018) – The Board of State and Community Corrections approved a process to award the second round of Prop 47 funds to communities seeking to provide mental health and substance use disorder treatment and other services for those in the criminal justice system.

The Board voted to use the Round 1 Request for Proposals with only minor, technical edits for Round 2 and to award two years of accumulated funding instead of three. The result will mean fewer awards in Round 2, but for the same amounts — $1 million for small scope projects and $6 million for large ones.

The plan will allow Round 1 recipients time to collect data on program outcomes that can inform future BSCC grant requirements.

“We are doing what we can to quickly get these much-needed funds to the communities and people that can be helped by them,” said Board Chair Linda Penner.

The Board also decided to allow all local government agencies to apply, even those that currently receive funding. A scoring panel chaired by Board Member Gordon Baranco, a retired judge, will read and rate the proposals.

Proposition 47 was a voter-approved initiative that in 2014 reduced penalties for some non-violent, non-serious crimes such as drug use and petty theft. The state savings resulting from these changes is being used to fund treatment programs, job training and housing-related assistance for Prop 47-impacted individuals.

The first round was awarded to 23 agencies in a highly competitive process. The original Request for Proposals took more than a year to research and write. It was developed by an Executive Steering Committee made up of stakeholders and subject-matter experts, including formerly incarcerated people.

Round 2 funding will come from FY 2019-20 and FY 2020-21 state savings.

Recruitment for a scoring panel begins November 9 and will last at least 30 days. Anyone interested in submitting a statement of interest may visit www.bscc.ca.gov and click on the icon on the right side of the homepage and follow instructions.

The BSCC plans to release the Round 2 final RFP to the field in January 2019 and anticipates making awards in August 2019.

For more information please contact Field Representative Ricardo Goodridge at Ricardo.goodridge@bscc.ca.gov or Communications Director Tracie Cone at tracie.cone@bscc.ca.gov