Referred to: The Public Health and Social Services Committee (Chairman Lopez and

Legislators Allen, Belfiglio, Heppner, and Roberts), and The Ways and Means

Committee (Chairman Gerentine and Legislators Allen, Bartels, Belfiglio, Briggs,

Maio, and Maloney)

Legislators Carl Belfiglio and Mary Wawro offer the following:

WHEREAS, for almost a decade, AWARENESS, via adolescents speaking to

and educating offenders between the ages of 16 and 21 years old, has provided a

program in relationship with the legal system that insures accountability on many

levels for underage drinking offenders, marijuana, prescription drugs, and any other

violations or low level criminal charges in Ulster County; and

WHEREAS, the youth who have participated in the AWARENESS program

identify that the use of peers their own age to deliver the program is one of the most

effective tools of the program; and

WHEREAS, this teen run program supervised by clinical staff a Licensed

Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) has proven to be an effective way to help

adolescents overcome addiction in a time when substance abuse has reached a crisis

level in our Country, State and County; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature appropriated $10,000.00 to the AWARENESS

program in the 2015 Ulster County Budget to help offset program expenses; and

WHEREAS, a key component of the program is keeping recovered peers

working with new participants; and

WHEREAS, these peers need compensation so they can afford time to help

others cross the bridge to sobriety; and

WHEREAS, the appropriation request for the 2016 Ulster County Budget was

$20,000.00 to incorporate salaries in order to be eligible for other funding that

requires a salary match; and

WHEREAS, the salaries would go to youth over the age of 18 to help organize

and instruct weekly groups as well as an advisor to oversee them; and

WHEREAS, on December 9, 2015 the Ulster County Legislature approved

budget amendment No. 15 delegating $10,000.00 in contingency funding in the 2016

Ulster County Budget to the AWARENESS Program to be disbursed pending resolve

of an outstanding issue with the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance

Abuse Services (OASAS); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the letter dated March 11, 2016, AWARENESS is

now an OASAS-approved Alcohol Awareness Program; and

WHEREAS, there is a 10% fee on funding received which is applied to

OASAS administrative costs; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature desires to move forward with

disbursement of the funds earmarked in contingency for the AWARENESS program,

as well as an additional 10% to cover associated fees $10,000.00 to cover new

administrative costs, increased expenses and incorporation of salaries; and

WHEREAS, this funding will be applied to the AWARENESS Program for

the 2016 fiscal year; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the 2016 Ulster County Budget is hereby amended as

follows:

TRANSFER

FROM AMOUNT

AA.1990.1331-4600.4660 Contingent Account $11,111.00

(App. #) $20,000.00

TO AMOUNT

AA. 8989.3700-4600.4660 Other Home and $11,111.00

(App. #) Community Services $20,000.00

and, be it further

RESOLVED, the Commissioner of Finance is hereby authorized to make any

and all budget adjustments necessary to transfer and appropriate the funds from

contingency into the appropriate budget lines as indicated above; and, be it further

 RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Ulster County Legislature is hereby

authorized to execute an agreement in the amount of $11,111.00 $20,000.00 with the

AWARENESS Program, to provide, the form as filed with the Clerk of the Ulster

County Legislature or as modified with the approval of the Legislative Counsel in

consultation with the County Attorney,

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: NOES:

Passed Committee: Public Health and Social Services as amended on April 4, 2016

Postponed in Committee: Ways and Means on April 19, 2016

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on _______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$11,111.00 $20,000.00– TRANSFER FROM CONTINGENT ACCOUNT- 2016

 BUDGETED COUNTY DOLLARS