REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  February  28, 2023
CATEGORY:  Consent - Law and Justice-20.

SUBJECT:

Approve an agreement with Ascertain Forensics for forensic toxicology laboratory services.

Supervisorial District No. :  All

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Tyler Thompson, Lieutenant, (530) 245-6137

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Michael Johnson, Sheriff-Coroner

RECOMMENDATION

Approve an agreement with Ascertain Forensics in an amount not to exceed $100,000 to provide forensic toxicology laboratory services for the period March 15, 2023 through March 14, 2026.

DISCUSSION

Ascertain Forensics completes most postmortem toxicology testing. We currently have only one vendor located on the East Coast that conducts our postmortem toxicology testing. Samples of blood and urine are often tested for the presence of medications, narcotics or their metabolites. Those results can then be incorporated into our medicolegal investigation(s) and provide valuable evidence when determining manner and cause of death. This agreement will allow us another vendor for conducting these tests.

ALTERNATIVES

The board may choose not to approve or request additional information.

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the agreement as to form. Risk Management has approved the agreement. The Recommendation has been reviewed by the County Administrative Office.

FISCAL IMPACT

There is no additional General Fund impact with approval of the recommended action. Appropriations are included in the Sheriff-Coroner Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 budget and future year appropriations will be requested.