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Board accepts DA GRIP donations after debate over disclosure filings; registrar to confirm behest paperwork
Summary
The Board accepted donations to the District Attorney's GRIP program but raised questions about whether behest‑of‑payment disclosure filings were properly completed for past solicitations; the DA's office said treasurer emails showed attempts to file and that legal counsel is reviewing whether additional filings are required.
Supervisors accepted donations from the Orange County Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership (GRIP) to support gang reduction and intervention programs, but several board members pressed the District Attorney's office and the county registrar about whether required behest‑of‑payment disclosures were filed when money was solicited.
Supervisor Spitzer questioned the source and traceability of contributions and said he could not support accepting funds until the origin was clear. "It is important before we accept this money ... to understand where the money is coming from," he said. County counsel and the registrar explained that behest filing obligations arise if donations are solicited by an elected official and that the requirement triggers when a single source gives more than $5,000 in a year.
DA counsel said the GRIP treasurer emailed behest filings in 2014 and later years but that the registrar requires an original hard copy for formal filing; the DA's office told the board it would confirm whether a follow‑up hard copy was filed and would work with counsel to make any needed filings. County counsel said the legal obligation to file is on the elected official and that the board is not required to refuse funds on that basis, though members may choose to do so.
The motion to accept the donations passed 4‑1 after debate and an objection from Supervisor Spitzer, who said he could not "be part of taking monies from an outside source that has not complied with the law." The DA's office said it would have its treasurer file originals if required and that it had sought legal advice about whether some board‑generated donations triggered reporting requirements.
No penalties or reversals were imposed by the board at the meeting; the registrar agreed to confirm whether original forms were on file and county counsel said staff would seek any clarifying legal opinions needed.
