Reports

The purpose of this report is to determine the extent of implementation of the five recommendations included in our initial audit report, Use, Collection, and Reporting of Infection Control Data (Report Number: 2020-S-55). The five recommendations included four recommendations to the Department of Health and one to the Governor.

New York City is the largest municipality by population in both New York State and the United States. The City is also the main economic engine of the State, a powerhouse that sits at the center of one of the largest metropolitan economies in the world. While the COVID-19 pandemic initially reversed the City’s progress of the years prior to the pandemic, its economy has since rebounded. This reference document includes major demographic, economic and fiscal indicators that highlight New York City’s contribution to the State. Indicators are provided, where available, going back to 2017 and...

We performed procedures at the Department of Education (DOE) to provide assurances on financial information that is significant to the state’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report; evaluate the effectiveness of DOE’s internal controls over financial reporting and compliance; and determine whether DOE complied with applicable laws and regulations. In addition, we determined whether management has taken actions to correct the findings reported in the prior year. For the second consecutive audit, DOE did not comply with Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act reporting requirements.

This informational brief describes changes to the Department of Children and Family Services’ (DCFS) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, including how COVID-19 impacted participation, benefit amounts, and program administration. This brief is intended to provide timely information related to an area of interest to the legislature or based on a legislative request. Among other findings, this brief highlights that the number of SNAP recipients increased 27.5%, from 769,768 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020 to a high of 981,751 in January 2021. According to DCFS, the increase...

On February 8, 2022, Pinecrest Supports and Services Center (PSSC) Regional Administrator Shannon Thorn notified the Louisiana Legislative Auditor (LLA), in writing, of a possible misappropriation of public funds by then PSSC Police Captain David Patterson. LLA initiated this investigative audit to determine the extent to which Mr. Patterson recorded overtime hours he did not work. From July 2020 to December 2021, Mr. Patterson recorded and was paid $15,099 for 391 hours of COVID-19 overtime on weekend days that he either did not work or failed to go through PSSC’s mandatory COVID-19 screening...

This investigative audit was performed in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statutes 24:513, et seq. to determine the validity of complaints we received. The procedures we performed primarily consisted of making inquiries and examining selected financial records and other documents and do not constitute an examination or review in accordance with generally accepted auditing or attestation standards. The Washington Parish Fire Protection District No. 7 (District 7) Secretary provided inaccurate and incomplete information to the Louisiana Workforce Commission to obtain COVID-19 pandemic...

As a part of our audit of the State of Louisiana’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and our work related to the Single Audit of the State of Louisiana for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, we performed procedures at the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) to provide assurances on financial information that is significant to the state’s Annual Comprehensive 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. In addition, we determined whether management...

As a part of our audit of the Louisiana State University (LSU) and our work related to the Single Audit of the State of Louisiana for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, we performed procedures at the LSU and Related Campuses to provide assurances on financial information that is significant to the LSU's financial statements; evaluate the effectiveness of LSU and Related Campuses’ internal controls over financial reporting and compliance; and determine whether LSU and Related Campuses complied with applicable laws and regulations. In addition, we determined whether management has taken...

This audit report provides the results of our evaluation of the Louisiana Workforce Commission’s (LWC) Unemployment Insurance program and federally-funded COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment assistance programs. The purpose of this audit was to determine if the IRS Form 1099-Gs (1099s) filed by LWC with the IRS accurately reported the amount of unemployment benefits paid to claimants during calendar years 2020 and 2021. Overall, we found that LWC filed accurate 1099s for unemployment benefits paid to 698,372 (99.7%) of 700,204 claimants in calendar year 2020. However, we found that LWC did...

From May 21, 2021 to November 9, 2021, the Louisiana Department of Education (DOE) paid $486,050 on two emergency contracts without first obtaining the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (BESE’s) approval. The Louisiana Administrative Code requires that professional and consulting services contracts recommended by the Superintendent of Education at, or above, a certain amount (currently $50,000) be approved by BESE. By paying contractors for professional and consulting services prior to obtaining BESE’s approval, DOE may have violated a provision of the Louisiana...