Referred to:  The Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee (Chairwoman Hansut and Legislators Bowen, Fabiano, Hewitt, and Lopez), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Cahill, Criswell, Roberts, and Ronk)

Chairwoman of the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee, Gina Hansut, and Deputy Chair Chris Hewitt offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted at the request of the County Executive on behalf of the Ulster County District Attorney; and

WHEREAS, the County of Ulster and the State of New York had previously entered into an agreement for the Aid to Prosecution Program, in the amount of $79,380.00, for the purpose of improving the prosecution of repeat violent and serious felony offenders, the term of which expired March 31, 2023; and

WHEREAS, the State of New York has now appropriated additional funds to continue such program for an additional twelve months in the amount of $569,197.00, for the period April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024; and

WHEREAS, the District Attorney requests that the Chair of the Ulster County Legislature be authorized to accept the funding of $569,197.00 from the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services to renew the Aid to Prosecution Program; and

WHEREAS, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services has automatically disbursed to Ulster County; and

WHEREAS, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services requires that the money continue to offset the cost of prosecutorial services that the County has incurred and will incur during the period of April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024; and

WHEREAS, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services will not require a contract, nor will it be necessary for the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office to submit reimbursement vouchers for payment; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Chair of the Ulster County Legislature is hereby authorized to accept the funding in the amount of $569,197.00 for the Aid to Prosecution Program with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services,

in the form as filed with the Clerk of the Legislature, or as modified with the approval of the County Attorney; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that if funding for this program is eliminated, the Commissioner of Finance shall, immediately upon discovery, send written notification to the Clerk of the Legislature, and the relevant Department Head shall attend the next regular meeting of the Ways and Means Committee to assist the Committee in review and evaluation for determination of the program’s continuance,       

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:         

Passed Committee: Law Enforcement and Public Safety on _______________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on _______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$569,197.00 – 2024 APPROPRIATION DOLLARS

$569,197.00 – 2024 STATE REVENUE DOLLARS