Report 2009-119.4 All Recommendation Responses

Report 2009-119.4: California Emergency Management Agency: Despite Receiving $136 Million in Recovery Act Funds in June 2009, It Only Recently Began Awarding These Funds and Lacks Plans to Monitor Their Use (Release Date: May 2010)

Recommendation #1 To: Emergency Management Agency

As soon as possible, Cal EMA should execute subgrant agreements with subrecipients so California can more fully realize the benefits of the Recovery Act funds.

6-Month Agency Response

Cal EMA reported that as of June 30, 2010, it had executed all 229 JAG Program agreements supported by Recovery Act funds. Cal EMA indicated that it distributed Recovery Act funds as follows: $33.4 million for law enforcement programs, $10.4 million for prosecution and court programs, $150,000 for prevention and education programs, $44.6 million for corrections and community corrections to reduce the likelihood of recidivism, $44.5 million for drug treatment and enforcement programs, $1.5 million for crime victim and witness programs, and $1.1 million for administrative costs. (See 2011-406 p. 148)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #2 To: Emergency Management Agency

To ensure that it meets the monitoring requirements of its Recovery Act JAG Program, Cal EMA should plan its monitoring activities to provide reasonable assurance that its Recovery Act JAG Program subrecipients administer federal awards in accordance with laws, regulations, and the provisions of contracts or agreements.

6-Month Agency Response

Cal EMA provided a monitoring plan for all its grant subrecipients that involves a risk-based approach that contains the following four key components: subrecipients are monitored during the term of the grant award; monitoring efforts focus on the areas of the most significant risk to the agency; all findings are addressed through appropriate corrective action; and ongoing financial and administrative training and technical assistance is provided to subrecipients. According to its monitoring plan, specific to Recovery Act funds, Cal EMA randomly selects subrecipients to receive extended scope reviews through the risk assessment process. Additionally, the plan indicates that all subrecipients receiving Recovery Act funds will receive a limited scope review within six months after the award is granted. This review may lead to an extended scope field review if needed to assure subrecipient compliance. (See 2011-406 p. 149)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #3 To: Emergency Management Agency

To plan its subrecipient monitoring activities properly, Cal EMA should identify the workload associated with monitoring its Recovery Act JAG Program subrecipients and the workload standards necessary to determine the number of program staff needed.

6-Month Agency Response

Cal EMA reported that its goal is to monitor all 229 Recovery Act subrecipients through site visits by June 30, 2011, and reported it had completed onsite monitoring for 84 of the 229 subrecipients as of December 13, 2010. It also provided its estimate of the number of work hours needed to conduct at least one site visit during the grant period for each subrecipient. The estimate identified that it needed 8.62 personnel years to perform this work. In addition, Cal EMA reported that it hired a retired annuitant to assist existing staff in conducting site visits. However, Cal EMA pointed out that it is limited to spending $592,000 each fiscal year on state operations to administer the Recovery Act projects and it intends to stay within that amount. Cal EMA also stated that it does not have eight staff who are dedicated 100 percent to the Recovery Act funded projects, but rather several program and monitoring staff who administer and monitor other federal- and state-funded projects as well. (See 2011-406 p. 149)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #4 To: Emergency Management Agency

Cal EMA should develop the necessary procedures to ensure that it meets its Recovery Act reporting requirements.

6-Month Agency Response

Cal EMA provided revised procedures for meeting Recovery Act reporting requirements and for increasing communication among staff regarding federal reporting requirements. (See 2011-406 p. 149)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

All Recommendations in 2009-119.4

Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.