CLARK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM
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Petitioner: |
Jessica Colvin, Chief Financial Officer |
Recommendation:
title
Authorize the award of $250,000 of Clark County marijuana fees to fund the Nevada Legal Services Clean Slate Legal Assistance Project; authorize the County Manager or her designee to execute the required grant resolution per NRS 244.1505; or take other action deemed appropriate. (For possible action)
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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Fund #: |
1010.000 |
Fund Name: |
General Fund |
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Fund Center: |
N/A |
Funded PGM/Grant: |
N/A |
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Amount: |
$250,000 |
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Description: |
Clark County marijuana fees |
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Additional Comments: |
N/A |
BACKGROUND:
Previously convicted individuals are often prevented from obtaining sustainable employment with a livable wage as employers refuse to employ applicants with a criminal record. There are a variety of criminal history records that are eligible to be sealed that would allow individuals to seek and gain employment without disclosing a criminal record. The population eligible for record sealing is largely African American, male, low-income, with lower rates of educational attainment, compared to the overall population. Sealing eligible criminal records provides stability for individuals and families, which benefits overall community stability; however, it involves a procedurally complicated process. The Nevada Legal Services Pro Bono Program prioritizes criminal record sealing cases and provides staff services through regular weekly educational seminars with UNLV Boyd School of Law and continued representation of clients in record sealing petitions.
Clark County marijuana fees of $250,000 would allow Nevada Legal Services to dedicate a program to expand the Clean Slate Legal Assistance Project to (1) assist an estimated 250 low-income households through December 31, 2023, (2) establish partnerships with three new community partners that refer pre-screened record sealing clients, (3) increase legal outreach and community education, and (4) increase the number of record sealing educations classes to local attorneys.