To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Public Infrastructure; Department of Health Services; County Counsel
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz, 707-565-2550; Nolan Sullivan, 707-565-4774; Josh Myers, 707-565-2421
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Blanket Purchase Order Agreements for Hearing Officer Services and Designation of County Counsel for the Certification Review Hearing Officer Approval Panel
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Award the agreements and delegate authority to the Purchasing Agent to execute Blanket Purchase Order Agreements with California Hearing Officers LLP., Civica Law Group APC, and Serviam by Wright LLP, for as-needed Hearing Officers and related services, for a one-year term with up to four one-year extension options per agreement.
B) Adopt a Resolution designating County Counsel, to serve as a member of the certification review hearing officer approval panel prescribed by Welfare and Institutions Code section 5256.1, and recognizing the authority of the panel members’ duly appointed deputies to act on their behalf as permitted by law.
end
Executive Summary:
This item presents two distinct but related actions concerning hearing officer services.
First, the Department of Public Infrastructure (SPI) requests that the Board authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute Countywide Blanket Purchase Order (BPO) Agreements for as-needed hearing officer and related services, for use by all County departments and affiliated public entities. This action will consolidate currently decentralized, department-specific agreements into a standardized Countywide procurement structure, improving administrative efficiency, ensuring consistent contract terms and legal compliance, and reducing administrative burden associated with multiple independent contracting processes. Approval of the BPO Agreements will not constitute approval of any firm or individual to conduct certification review hearings under Welfare and Institutions Code section 5256.1. Any individual assigned to conduct those hearings must first be included on the list of eligible persons unanimously approved by the statutory panel.
Second, County Counsel and the Department of Health Services requests that the Board designate County Counsel, to serve as a member of the certification review hearing officer approval panel prescribed by Welfare and Institutions Code section 5256.1. That statute requires certification review hearing officers conducting hearings under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act to be selected from a list of eligible persons unanimously approved by a panel composed of the local mental health director, the County Public Defender, and either County Counsel or the District Attorney, as designated by the Board.
Discussion:
A. Countywide Hearing Officer Agreements
County departments, agencies, and special districts currently procure hearing officer and related services through separate, department-specific agreements. This decentralized approach results in duplicative contracting processes, inconsistent terms, and administrative inefficiencies across the County.
The Department of Public Infrastructure (SPI) requests that the Board authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute Countywide Blanket Purchase Order (BPO) Agreements for as- needed Hearing Officer Services for use by all County departments and affiliated public entities. This action will consolidate department-specific agreements into a standardized Countywide procurement structure, improving efficiency, ensuring consistent contract terms and legal compliance, and reducing administrative burden associated with multiple independent contracting processes.
On May 4, 2026, the County issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for as-needed Hearing Officer’s and related services. Notifications were distributed to Minority Business Enterprises, Women’s Business Enterprises, and known local providers of Hearing Officer services.
The County received three (3) proposals in response to the solicitation. Following review and evaluation of those proposals, the evaluation committee recommends approval of BPO Agreements with California Hearing Officers LLP, Civica Law Group APC, and Serviam by Wright LLP for the provision of as-needed administrative hearing officer and appeals services.
These proposed agreements will streamline and expedite access to qualified Hearing Officer services on an as-needed basis for County departments and affiliated public agencies. Services may support a range of administrative proceedings, including permitting, licensing, regulatory enforcement, Lanterman Petris Short Act certification reviews, and other quasi-judicial hearings, on an as-needed basis.
B. Certification Review Hearing Officer Approval Panel
Under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, a person detained for evaluation and treatment may be certified for additional intensive treatment if the applicable statutory requirements are satisfied. The person is entitled to a certification review hearing to determine whether probable cause exists to continue the detention.
Welfare and Institutions Code section 5256.1 provides that a certification review hearing may be conducted by a court-appointed commissioner or referee or by a qualified certification review hearing officer. The statute further requires certification review hearing officers to be selected from a list of eligible persons unanimously approved by a panel composed of the local mental health director, the County Public Defender, and either County Counsel or the District Attorney, as designated by the Board of Supervisors.
County Counsel and the Department of Health Services recommends that the Board designate County Counsel to serve as the third member of the statutory panel. The proposed Resolution is limited to that designation. It does not establish the panel, alter its statutory membership or authority, or approve any proposed certification review hearing officer.
Consistent with Government Code sections 7 and 24100, the officials serving on the statutory panel may act through their duly appointed deputies as permitted by applicable law. The proposed Resolution recognizes this existing statutory authority but does not authorize the appointment of other employees or representatives as designees.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
N/A
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The designation of County Counsel under Welfare and Institutions Code section 5256.1 will have no material fiscal impact.
Appropriations for costs to be incurred under these Blanket Purchase Order Agreements will be available through Department Adopted Budgets and utilized only when the services are deemed necessary by Department management.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Blanket Purchase Order Professional Services Agreements:
1 - California Hearing Officers LLP
2 - Civica Law Group APC
3 - Serviam by Wright LLP
4 - Resolution Designating County Counsel Pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5256.1
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None