Item N02* TIME APPROXIMATE 2:30 P.M. *
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: June 10, 2015 - MAR Division: CgOV Attorney
Bulk Item: Yes No X
Staff Contact: Bob Shillinger 305-292-3470
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a resolution establishing the "John Richard Collins
Legal Scholar Program " within the County Attorney's Office.
ITEM BACKGROUND: Mr. Collins served as County Attorney from 2003 until 2006. During his
tenure, he established an internship program under which law students gained practical experience by
interning in the County Attorney's Office. This internship program has continued under Mr. Collins'
successors. Mr. Collins passed away in 2012.
The Florida Bar's City, County and Local Government Law Section makes funds available to local
government legal departments to encourage law students to develop an interest in local government
law. The section just awarded $2,000 to the Monroe County Attorney's Office to help fund such an
internship. The County must match the dollar amount provided by the Section ($2,000). Due to law
school rules, these funds cannot be used to pay an intern a salary if the student is seeking academic
credit for the internship. The rules do allow for payment of a stipend to be used towards living
expenses but such living expenses are not reimbursable under current County policies.
This resolution formally recognizes the internship program started by Mr. Collins and creates a
mechanism by which an intern who is seeking academic credit for the internship can receive a stipend
for living expenses related to the internship. The resolution also recognizes Mr. Collins contributions
to the County and the community by naming the program after him, to be known as the "John Richard
Collins Legal Scholar Program " and its participants referred to as "Collins Scholars".
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: None.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: N/A.
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Approval.
TOTAL COST: Up to $4,000 INDIRECT COST: None. BUDGETED: Yes X No
COST TO COUNTY: Up to $2,000 Match DIFFERENTIAL OF LOCAL PREFERENCE: N/A
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
Up to $2,000 Florida Bar Local Govt. Section grant• Up to $2 000 County Match — Ad Valorem
REVENUE PRODUCING: No AMO PER MONTH Year
il-
APPROVED BY: County Atty OMB/Purchasing Risk Management
DOCUMENTATION: Included X Not Required
DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM #
Revised 1/09
1 #
1
WHEREAS, John Richard Collins served with distinction as the Monroe County
Attorney from 2003 until 2006; and
WHEREAS, in addition to his service as County Attorney, Mr. Collin's legacy of
distinguished service to the community includes his tenure as a Deputy Sheriff, an Assistant
State Attorney, legal advisor to the Monroe County Sheriff, Monroe County School Board
Attorney, and Adjunct Professor at Florida Keys Community College and St. Leo's University;
and
WHEREAS, during his tenure as County Attorney, Mr. Collins established an internship
program whereby law school students could gain practical experience working in the County
Attorney's Office; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Collins' establishment of the internship program was emblematic of his
belief in providing educational opportunities and emphasis on scholarly achievement; and
WHEREAS, the County benefits from the assistance provided by law students interning
within the County Attorney's Office; and
WHEREAS, students are often able to earn credit towards graduation through such
internships; and
WHEREAS, under the academic standards applicable to law schools, a student may
receive credit towards graduation for participation in an internship program if that student is not
compensated for his or her work; and
WHEREAS, those same standards do, however, permit employing entities to reimburse a
student for reasonable out-of-pocket living expenses related to an internship; and
WHEREAS, the high cost of living in the Florida Keys can discourage students from
seeking internships with Monroe County;
WHEREAS, recently, the Florida Bar awarded a $2,000 grant to the Monroe County
Attorney's Office to assist with the internship program; and
Page 1 of 2
Res Collins Scholars Program
BOCC 5/20/15 (kp)
WHEREAS, the County must match the dollar amount provided by the Section; and
WHEREAS, this year marks the first time that the County Attorney's Office has
received such a grant; and
WHEREAS, the County does not currently have a policy that would authorize the
reimbursement of living expenses associated with an internship for a law student; and
WHEREAS, this resolution is necessary to establish a mechanism by which such funds
can be used to reimburse living expenses for program participants; and
WHEREAS, the Board desires to honor the legacy of John Richard Collins who passed
away in 2012 by formally establishing the "John Richard Collins Legal Scholar Program"
within the County Attorney's Office;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that:
1. The Board hereby establishes the "John Richard Collins Legal Scholar program"
within the County Attorney's Office;
2. Participants in this program shall henceforth be referred to as "Collins Scholars";
3. Collins Scholars shall be law students selected according to criteria established by
the County Attorney;
4. The County Attorney is hereby authorized to solicit and accept grant funds on
behalf of the County to support appropriate expenses related to the program;
5. The County Attorney is hereby authorized to approve and the Clerk is authorized
to pay appropriate expenses related to the program including but not limited to
reasonable living expenses of Collins Scholars; and
6. This resolution shall be effective retroactively to May 1, 2015.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the l0u' day of June, 2015.
Mayor Danny L. Kolhage
Mayor Pro Tem Heather Carruthers
Commissioner George Neugent
Commissioner David Rice
Commissioner Sylvia Murphy
(Seal) BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Attest: Amy Heavilin, Clerk OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: By:
Deputy Clerk Mayor Danny L. Kolhage
A�9MRQa Mau UNTY I#
Page 2 of 2 77T
Res Collins Scholars Program
BOCC 5/20/15 (kp) S. II.MR, JR.
fl A _1
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE CITY, COUNTY
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW SECTION
OBJECTIVES:
The City, County and Local Government Law Section of the Florida Bar seeks to
enhance students' educational experience in the areas of local government law, the
process of the law, civic responsibility and interest in the study and practice of law as a
career by providing grants for student internships. These internships will afford students
an incomparable opportunity to view firsthand, and to gain insight into, the practice of
local government law.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Stipends: The maximum grant amount is $2,500.00 for each local government attorney's
office.
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
The grant may only be used for the student internships as a stipend to the student and for
expenses directly associated with and benefiting the internship. The local office must
match the dollar amount provided by the Section.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: Local government offices eligible to apply are limited to
attorney's offices of counties, cities, school boards and special taxing districts. Attorneys
and/or law firms representing these entities as outside counsel are not eligible to apply.
The student must be a full or part-time student or a high school graduate with confirmed
admission to a college or university.
Documentation: An accounting of the use of monies must be made and submitted,
along with a student evaluation of the internship, to the Executive Council within 60 days
of the completion of the internship.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:
Application Procedure: Applications must be completed and received by May 16,
2011. All applications must be made and submitted, along with student evaluations, to
the program administrator for the Executive Council of the City, County and Local
Government Law Section.
Award Procedure: Applications for stipends recommended for approval are awarded
directly by the Executive Council of the City, County and Local Government Law
Section to the applicant, subject to the availability and appropriation of funds.
Timeline: Approval of grant applications will be announced no later than May 20,
2011. Successful applicants will be required to sign a grant agreement. Funds must be
expended within the indicated time frame on the application or returned to the Section.
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ricky Libbert
Program Administrator
The Florida Bar
651 E. Jefferson St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Telephone: 850/561-5631
Fax: 850/561-5825