Reports

This audit report provides the results of our evaluation of the Louisiana Workforce Commission’s Unemployment Insurance program and federally-funded COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment assistance program. The purpose of this audit was to determine if apparently ineligible employees of the State of Louisiana were paid unemployment benefits Overall, we found that, for the period of February 2, 2020, through July 24, 2021, LWC made approximately $6.1 million in State and Federal unemployment benefit payments to 1,054 state employees who do not appear to have been eligible for these programs...

This report provides the results of our evaluation of the Louisiana Workforce Commission’s (LWC) Unemployment Insurance program (State UI) and federally funded COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment assistance programs (Federal UI). The purpose of this report was to identify potential overpayments or improper unemployment benefit payments LWC made to claimants. Overall, we found that LWC made approximately $2.9 million in payments that potentially violated unemployment benefit program rules outlined in federal and/or state law, including payments to claimants enrolled in multiple programs at...

As a part of our work related to the Single Audit of the State of Louisiana (Single Audit) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, we performed procedures at the Louisiana State Penitentiary (LSP), Elayn Hunt Correctional Center (EHCC), and Adult Probation and Parole (P&P) facilities within the Department of Public Safety and Corrections – Corrections Services (Department) to evaluate the effectiveness of the Department’s internal control over compliance and determine whether the Department complied with applicable laws and regulations.

The purpose of this audit was to provide information on the Department of Public Safety and Corrections’ (DOC) response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the correctional facilities it oversees. Overall, DOC faced multiple issues and challenges in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. DOC protocols complied with CDC guidance in the areas of testing, medical isolation, screening, visitation, personal protective equipment, social distancing, and transfers. However, it did not have processes to verify that correctional facilities implemented these protocols.

The purpose of this audit was to identify potentially improper payments the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) made to deceased individuals. We found that, of the approximately $8.57 billion in State and Federal Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit payments made by LWC, approximately $1.08 million (0.013%) was paid to 374 individuals after they died. Of that amount, $629,091 in payments could not have been prevented, $337,007 of the payments should have been prevented by LWC’s current controls, and $123,194 could have been prevented if LWC conducted a weekly match with the Louisiana...

We performed procedures at the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) to provide assurances on financial information that was significant to the state’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report; evaluate the effectiveness of LWC’s internal controls over financial reporting and compliance; and determine whether LWC complied with applicable laws and regulations. We found that LWC did not have adequate internal controls and did not comply with requirements of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) federal program.

The purpose of this audit was to provide information on the Office of Juvenile Justice’s (OJJ) response to the COVID-19 pandemic in its secure care facilities. Overall, OJJ faced multiple issues and challenges in addressing the pandemic. We found the agency’s protocols generally complied with guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for medical isolation, screening, visitation, personal protective equipment, and social distancing. However, agency officials were unable to verify whether the facilities consistently followed the protocols because of the suspension...

For the period July 1, 2020, through January 31, 2021, we confirmed the completeness and accuracy for two samples of grant applications and supporting documentation submitted by Louisiana businesses.

The purpose of this audit was to identify potential improper payments the Louisiana Workforce Commission made to incarcerated individuals who, according to LWC policy and state law, were ineligible to qualify for Unemployment Insurance and federally funded COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment assistance programs. We found that LWC made approximately $6.2 million in State and Federal UI payments to 1,195 incarcerated individuals who do not appear to have been eligible for the benefits. We found that 81 percent identified through this analysis qualified through the Federal UI program designed...

The purpose of this audit was to provide information on Louisiana’s response to COVID-19 in nursing facilities. We found that nursing facilities in Louisiana faced staffing challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic because of staff exposure to COVID-19, illness, or the need to care for family members.