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Brought to you by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency
State & Local Reports
Date Issued
Agency Reviewed/Investigated
Report Title
Type
Location
State of West Virginia
The Bureau could reduce costs by combining ADR Centers into one facility, while still offering the same services.
PERD’s primary objective was to assess the Bureau of Senior Services’ response to a January 2014 PERD report recommendation to consolidate 10 ADR Centers into 1 ADR Center. One ADR Center, operated by the Bureau from its administrative office in Charleston, would free an additional $225,000 to $305,000 in lottery funds annually for other services the Legislature deems beneficial to citizens of the state (W. Va. Code §29-22-18). Reducing the number of ADR Centers to one does not reduce the State’s capacity to streamline access to the service that is primarily supplied via the telephone.
Addresses complaints raised by licensees of the West Virginia Board of Real Estates Appraisers claiming the Board is not complying with West Virginia Code §30-38-17.
The Legislative Auditor directed The Performance Evaluation and Research Division (PERD) to evaluate allegations, pursuant to Chapter 4, Article 2, Section 5 of the West Virginia Code, after PERD received complaints from the public and licensees stating that the Board was not following W.Va. Code which requires a public hearing or public comment period be held when the Board adopts new editions of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). A legal opinion determined that a public hearing or public comment period is required prior to adoption of an amended version of USPAP. After review, the Board has not complied with W.Va. Code since 2009.
The Hospital Finance Board has not established internal control or oversight over timekeeping, revenue, purchasing, or travel, resulting in significant errors.
The objective of this review was to determine if the Hospital Finance Authority has internal controls to ensure compliance with state rules and W. Va. Code. The Authority is at a higher risk for fraud and abuse because the agency cannot properly segregate duties with one employee nor provide adequate employee oversight. The Hospital Finance Board has not established control activities for operational processes, resulting in non-compliance with the State Travel Rule, improper leave use, and overpayments to the State Treasurer’s Office.
The General Service Division is finding it difficult to properly maintain state facilities because the Department of Administration purchases properties with little concern of the financial implications.
The objectives of this update are to determine to what extent the DOA responded to the eight recommendations made in the September 2015 PERD report on the GSD, and to assess the agency’s overall financial condition as of fiscal year 2021. PERD found that while the GSD is moving in the right direction, and its financial situation is improving, the legislative auditor anticipates the GSD will be under financial stress for several years, unless there are significant increases in lottery revenues, or state appropriated funds.
To address an accounting firm’s costly errors, the Department of Administration imposed requirements on state agencies contracting accounting firms that restrict trade and do not address the issue of competency
The objective of this review was to determine if the Purchasing Division made changes to the minimum requirements for audits of public agencies in an objective and transparent manner to ensure minimal impact to West Virginia based accounting firms and state agencies impacted by the new requirements. The new procurement requirements are bias towards large audit firms being eligible. Rather than establishing subjective qualifications that penalize many accounting firms, the Purchasing Division could have addressed the vendor in question, and future problematic audit firms, by using the suspension or debarment process.
The Legislature should consider eliminating the Board of Licensed Dietitians because it substantially duplicates the national commission on dietetic registration, and title protection can be provided statutorily.
The objective of this review was to determine if licensure of dietitians is necessary to protect the public. This review also assessed the Board’s compliance with Chapter 30 requirements and other applicable sections of West Virginia Code. The Legislative Auditor finds that the Board of Licensed Dietitians should be terminated for several reasons, including West Virginia licensure fully duplicates the national credential; adequate public protection exists without a regulatory board; and complaints are infrequent.
To determine if there is a continued need for licensure by the Nursing Home Administrators’ Licensing Board, PERD assessed whether the Board complied with the general provisions of Chapter 30 and other applicable laws, and evaluate the Board’s website for user-friendliness and transparency. The Board is necessary to protect the public and complies with most of the provisions of Chapter 30 of West Virginia Code, however it could benefit from being included in a multi-professional licensing agency.
The objectives of this review are to determine if the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists should be continued, consolidated or terminated, and if conditions warrant a change in the degree of regulations. In addition, this review is intended to assess the Board’s compliance with the general provisions of Chapter 30, Article 1 of the West Virginia Code, the Board’s enabling statute, and other applicable rules and laws such as the Open Governmental Proceedings and purchasing requirements. Finally, it is the objective of the Legislative Auditor to assess the Board’s website for user-friendliness and transparency. PERD finds the regulation of the barbering and cosmetology professions, as well as salons, is needed to protect the public; however, several options exist for the regulatory structure that may improve its operation.
The objective of this review was to determine the status of the Office of Drug Control Policy’s strategic plan. PERD’s analysis of the 2019 Substance Use Response Plan draft found that it does not adequately address the mandated requirements to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use. The goals, strategies, and objectives of the 2019 SPlan lack specific, measurable performance benchmarks with which to gage adequate progress towards meeting the mandate of reducing the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse and smoking by at least 10 percent.
State, county, and municipal governments could realize signifiant savings if legal advertisements were statutorily allowed to be placed on the internet.
PERD conducted this follow-up review of its September 2007 report on the study of statutory legal advertisements. One objective of this study was to follow-up on PERD’s September 2007 report related to statutorily required legal advertisements and the costs incurred as a result of them to state agencies, county government agencies, county boards of education, public institutions of higher education, and the 10 most populous municipalities. An additional objective included determining the estimated costs for developing and maintaining a government website with a centralized repository where legal advertisements for all governmental entities could be placed. After surveying 22 state agencies and subdivisions, all 55 county governments, subdivisions, and county boards of education, all 19 public institutions of higher education, and the 10 most populous municipalities, the Legislative Auditor determined that these entities combined paid more than $4.6 million in FY 2019 to publish statutorily required legal advertisements in qualified newspapers.
