Report 2010-106 All Recommendation Responses

Report 2010-106: Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act: State Agencies Do Not Fully Comply With the Act, and Local Governments Could Do More to Address Their Clients' Needs (Release Date: November 2010)

Recommendation #1 To: Food and Agriculture, Department of

To ensure that they meet their constituents' language needs, state agencies should make certain that they accurately assess and report their clients' language needs to the State Personnel Board. State agencies should also analyze formally their language survey results and consider other available bilingual resources to determine their true staffing deficiencies. Further, state agencies should establish procedures to identify the written materials that the Act requires them to translate into other languages and ensure that such materials are translated or made accessible to the agencies' LEP clients. Finally, state agencies should develop detailed corrective action plans describing how and when they will address their staffing and written materials deficiencies. In addition, they should submit their corrective action plans to the State Personnel Board as part of the state agencies' overall implementation plans.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2012

CDFA has fully implemented all of the Bureau of State Audits' (BSA) recommendations in its report titled “Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act (Act): State Agencies Do Not Fully Comply and Local Governments Could Do More to Address Their Client's Needs.” The following efforts demonstrate CDFA's implementation of BSA's first recommendation:

• On August 8, 2012, CDFA's Bilingual Services Program (BSP) Coordinator conducted a language survey training for CDFA's reporting assistants. The training covered the Act, the agency's responsibilities under the Act, the survey participants' roles and responsibilities, and instructions on how to conduct the survey.

• From August 8, 2012 to September 28, 2012, the BSP Coordinator provided leadership and guidance in accomplishing the following tasks:

o Two-week statewide language survey;

o Data entry of survey results;

o Quality control of data submitted;

o Analysis of deficiency results, other available bilingual resources, and results of the written documents survey.

• CDFA will continue to utilize qualified bilingual staff and a telephone-based translation/ interpretation service.

• On September 21, 2012, the BSP Coordinator analyzed results of the written documents survey, which CDFA conducted concurrently with the two-week statewide language survey. Through the survey, the BSP Coordinator identified the written materials that the Act requires to translate into other languages and will make the written materials accessible to the agency's clients.

• On October 1, 2012, the BSP Coordinator submitted CDFA's 2012 Language Survey results to the Civil Rights Office of the California Department of Human Resources. The Language Survey package contained a position deficiency analysis, identification of written materials, and CDFA's BSP policy.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #2 To: Employment Development Department

To ensure that they meet their constituents' language needs, state agencies should make certain that they accurately assess and report their clients' language needs to the State Personnel Board. State agencies should also analyze formally their language survey results and consider other available bilingual resources to determine their true staffing deficiencies. Further, state agencies should establish procedures to identify the written materials that the Act requires them to translate into other languages and ensure that such materials are translated or made accessible to the agencies' LEP clients. Finally, state agencies should develop detailed corrective action plans describing how and when they will address their staffing and written materials deficiencies. In addition, they should submit their corrective action plans to the State Personnel Board as part of the state agencies' overall implementation plans.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2012

The EDD continues its efforts to ensure it complies with the Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act and effectively addresses and corrects identified staffing and written material deficiencies. The EDD is fully committed to ensuring all customers, including limited English proficiency (LEP) customers, have equal access to its programs, services, and information.

In an effort to improve the services and administration of bilingual services provided to LEP customers, the EDD adopted a new LEP-Bilingual Services Policy (attached). The policy explains EDD's measures to fully implement the audit recommendations.

The new LEP-Bilingual Services Policy states that each branch within EDD is responsible for determining the need for bilingual services in their offices, identifying increased needs for non-English documents based on client demand, notifying EDD's Business Operations Planning and Support Division when additional documents need translation or additional languages need to be included in the translation process, posting the State Personnel Board's Language Identification Cards (SPB-935 and SPB-937) in all public offices visible to LEP customers, and taking appropriate action to correct staffing and written material deficiencies identified through the Dymally-Alatorre Language (DAL) Survey process.

The policy further states that the Equal Employment Opportunity Office is responsible for compiling the data from EDD's branches, identifying any languages deficiencies, conducting an analysis of the data collected, reviewing and validating the branches' proposed corrective action plans, and conducting follow-up to ensure corrective action is taken and deficiencies are resolved.

The EDD has implemented the provisions of this policy in conjunction with its recently completed 2012 DAL Survey.

EDD's branches are utilizing the Public Contact Employee Bilingual Directory to ensure services are provided to non-English-speaking customers. This directory identifies certified staff in 65 different languages, including American Sign Language and Braille translators available throughout the State. Branches are also actively hiring certified Spanish-speaking staff and certifying current Spanish-speaking staff to correct the staffing deficiency identified in the DAL Survey. Furthermore, EDD has implemented an online process for its Disability Insurance program which routes Spanish telephone calls to offices that have adequate bilingual Spanish-speaking staff.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #3 To: Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of

To ensure that they meet their constituents' language needs, state agencies should make certain that they accurately assess and report their clients' language needs to the State Personnel Board. State agencies should also analyze formally their language survey results and consider other available bilingual resources to determine their true staffing deficiencies. Further, state agencies should establish procedures to identify the written materials that the Act requires them to translate into other languages and ensure that such materials are translated or made accessible to the agencies' LEP clients. Finally, state agencies should develop detailed corrective action plans describing how and when they will address their staffing and written materials deficiencies. In addition, they should submit their corrective action plans to the State Personnel Board as part of the state agencies' overall implementation plans.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2012

The CDCR developed both a Bilingual Coordinator Manual and a Language Services Manual. The Language Services Manual is found on the departmental intranet. To ensure accurate assessment and reporting of clients' language needs to the State Personnel Board, the Bilingual Coordinator Manual included information on how to identify potentially inaccurate/skewed tally sheets; evaluated the 2010 Biennial Language Survey results (determining CDCR had no true deficiencies); developed and posted a Language Services Manual on the department internet website; and facilitated the current survey through executive staff (Adult Institutions, Parole Regions, Health Care, etc.), requiring they designate their programs' Survey Liaisons. In order to formally analyze language survey results, CDCR evaluated each location initially identified as deficient, identifying other available bilingual staff and contracting resources, and determined there were no true deficiencies; this is included in the Bilingual Language Survey Implementation Plan provided to the State Personnel Board (SPB) on October 12, 2011. Additionally, CDCR developed a Bilingual Position Deficiency Plan to facilitate evaluation and reporting of staffing deficiencies; this is included in Section 8-Bilingual Position Deficiency Plan, in the Bilingual Coordinator Manual. To ensure identification, translation, and distribution of written materials in accordance with the Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Service Act, CDCR provided process and information in Section 10-Translated Materials, in the Bilingual Coordinator Manual. CDCR's Bilingual Language Survey Implementation Plan submitted to SPB, required submission of plans to correct identified deficiencies; however, there were no true deficiencies identified for CDCR in the Bilingual Language Survey Implementation Plan.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #4 To: Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of

Public Health and Corrections should develop procedures to detect and prevent contract splitting.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2012

Corrections revised its service and expense order procedures in August 2011 and reported that its office of business services has begun auditing its institutions and facilities use of service orders to better prevent and detect contract splitting.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #5 To: Personnel Board, State

To ensure that all state agencies subject to the Act are aware of their potential responsibilities to provide bilingual services, the Personnel Board should improve its processes to identify and inform all such state agencies of the Act's requirements.

1-Year Agency Response

The Personnel Board used the Department of Finance's Uniform Codes Manual to create a comprehensive state agency listing and has developed procedures to ensure that all state agencies are properly notified of the Act's requirements. (See 2012-406, p. 65)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #6 To: Personnel Board, State

It should also make certain that every state agency required to comply with the Act conducts language surveys and submits implementation plans unless the Personnel Board exempts them from these requirements. The Personnel Board should ensure that it adheres to the specific criteria contained in the Act when exempting agencies from conducting language surveys or preparing implementation plans.

1-Year Agency Response

The Personnel Board developed a system to track state agencies' participation in the language survey and implementation plan processes. The Personnel Board also incorporated accurate exemption language, as specified in the Act, into the forms for the language survey and implementation plan and instituted a tracking mechanism and review process for each exemption approval to reduce the risk of error. (See 2012-406 p.66)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #7 To: Personnel Board, State

The Personnel Board should require state agencies to provide all of the information required by the Act. For example, the Personnel Board should ensure that state agencies identify their deficiencies in staffing and translated written materials and that the state agencies' implementation plans detail sufficiently how and when they plan to address these deficiencies. The Personnel Board should assess the adequacy of state agencies' language surveys and implementation plans. If it determines that implementation plans do not address deficiencies in staffing or written materials adequately, the Personnel Board should order the agencies to revise or supplement their plans accordingly. The Personnel Board should also require state agencies to report to it every six months on their progress in addressing their deficiencies. If the Personnel Board determines that agencies have not made reasonable progress toward complying with the Act, it should consider ordering them to comply with the Act. These actions could include ordering state agency officials to appear before the Personnel Board to explain why their agencies have not complied. If these actions or its other efforts to enforce the Act are ineffective, the Personnel Board should consider asking a court to issue writs of mandate under Section 1085 of the Code of Civil Procedure, to require agencies to perform their duties. The Personnel Board should seek enough additional staff to fulfill its obligations under the Act, or it should seek changes to the Act that would reduce its responsibilities and make them commensurate with its staffing levels.

1-Year Agency Response

The Personnel Board revised its forms to capture all of the information required by the Act. In addition, the Personnel Board has developed procedures to assess the adequacy of state agencies' language surveys and implementation plans, which includes evaluating the status of agencies' corrective action plans for addressing deficiencies in bilingual staffing and written materials. If it determines that agencies' corrective action plans do not adequately address deficiencies, the Personnel Board now requires such agencies to revise their plans accordingly. In addition, the Personnel Board requires deficient agencies to submit six-month progress reports. Further, the Personnel Board revised its procedures to invite nonexempt state agencies that do not submit language surveys or implementation plans to explain their noncompliance to its five-member board. Finally, the Personnel Board's bilingual services unit secured three student assistants to assist with its workload. (See 2012-406 p.66)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #8 To: Personnel Board, State

The Personnel Board should follow up with responsible state agencies to ensure that the agencies resolve the language access complaints it receives in a timely manner.

1-Year Agency Response

The Personnel Board revised its bilingual services program's procedures to incorporate additional fields to its tracking system to capture the date that a complaint was resolved and how it was resolved. (See 2012-406 p.67)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #9 To: Personnel Board, State

The Personnel Board should improve the content of its biennial report to the Legislature to identify problems more clearly and to propose solutions where warranted. Specifically, the report should clearly indicate whether state agencies have true staffing deficiencies or deficiencies in translated materials. In addition, the report should identify any agencies that are not complying with the Act and should present key survey and implementation plan results by state agency and field office to better inform policymakers and the public about the language needs of residents in certain areas of the State and about state agencies' available resources to meet those needs.

1-Year Agency Response

The Personnel Board's next biennial report is not scheduled for release until March 2012. However, it stated that it will revise the format and content of that report and all subsequent reports to reflect more comprehensive and meaningful data. (See 2012-406 p.67)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #10 To: Emergency Management Agency

To ensure that they meet their constituents' language needs, state agencies should make certain that they accurately assess and report their clients' language needs to the State Personnel Board. State agencies should also analyze formally their language survey results and consider other available bilingual resources to determine their true staffing deficiencies. Further, state agencies should establish procedures to identify the written materials that the Act requires them to translate into other languages and ensure that such materials are translated or made accessible to the agencies' LEP clients. Finally, state agencies should develop detailed corrective action plans describing how and when they will address their staffing and written materials deficiencies. In addition, they should submit their corrective action plans to the State Personnel Board as part of the state agencies' overall implementation plans.

1-Year Agency Response

The California Emergency Management Agency (Emergency Management) developed procedures to help ensure the accuracy of its biennial language surveys. Emergency Management also participated in the 2010 language survey and submitted an implementation plan to the Personnel Board in 2011. Emergency Management's language survey indicated that it did not have any staffing or written materials deficiencies. In addition, Emergency Management's implementation plan described its procedures for identifying the written materials that the Act requires it to translate into other languages and how it ensures such materials are translated or made accessible to its LEP clients. Finally, Emergency Management also provides an option on its Web site that allows LEP clients to translate its Web site content into numerous other languages. (See 2012-046 p.67)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #11 To: Highway Patrol, California

To ensure that they meet their constituents' language needs, state agencies should make certain that they accurately assess and report their clients' language needs to the State Personnel Board. State agencies should also analyze formally their language survey results and consider other available bilingual resources to determine their true staffing deficiencies. Further, state agencies should establish procedures to identify the written materials that the Act requires them to translate into other languages and ensure that such materials are translated or made accessible to the agencies' LEP clients. Finally, state agencies should develop detailed corrective action plans describing how and when they will address their staffing and written materials deficiencies. In addition, they should submit their corrective action plans to the State Personnel Board as part of the state agencies' overall implementation plans.

1-Year Agency Response

The California Highway Patrol (Highway Patrol) stated that it will continue to assess its clients' language needs and to report accurate information to the Personnel Board. Highway Patrol also participated in the 2010 language survey and submitted an implementation plan to the Personnel Board in 2011. Highway Patrol also formally analyzed its language survey results and determined that it had no true staffing deficiencies. In addition, it established procedures for identifying written materials that the Act requires it to translate into other languages and a process for monitoring its compliance with this requirement. Finally, Highway Patrol developed a detailed corrective action plan describing how and when it will address its written materials deficiencies. (See 2012-406 p.67)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #12 To: Housing and Community Development, Department of

To ensure that they meet their constituents' language needs, state agencies should make certain that they accurately assess and report their clients' language needs to the State Personnel Board. State agencies should also analyze formally their language survey results and consider other available bilingual resources to determine their true staffing deficiencies. Further, state agencies should establish procedures to identify the written materials that the Act requires them to translate into other languages and ensure that such materials are translated or made accessible to the agencies' LEP clients. Finally, state agencies should develop detailed corrective action plans describing how and when they will address their staffing and written materials deficiencies. In addition, they should submit their corrective action plans to the State Personnel Board as part of the state agencies' overall implementation plans.

1-Year Agency Response

The Department of Housing and Community Development (Housing) reported that beginning with the 2010 biennial language survey, it assigned responsibility for the survey to its equal employment opportunity officer, who also serves as its bilingual services program coordinator. This individual is responsible for coordinating, implementing, and overseeing the language survey, analyzing completed survey tally sheets, reporting the results of the analysis to the Personnel Board, and maintaining sufficient documentation. Housing also participated in the 2010 language survey and submitted an implementation plan to the Personnel Board in 2011. In addition, Housing formally analyzed its language survey results and established procedures for identifying written materials that require translation. Finally, Housing's implementation plan included a corrective action plan describing how it will address its staffing and written materials deficiencies. (See 2012-406 p.68)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #13 To: Justice, Department of

To ensure that they meet their constituents' language needs, state agencies should make certain that they accurately assess and report their clients' language needs to the State Personnel Board. State agencies should also analyze formally their language survey results and consider other available bilingual resources to determine their true staffing deficiencies. Further, state agencies should establish procedures to identify the written materials that the Act requires them to translate into other languages and ensure that such materials are translated or made accessible to the agencies' LEP clients. Finally, state agencies should develop detailed corrective action plans describing how and when they will address their staffing and written materials deficiencies. In addition, they should submit their corrective action plans to the State Personnel Board as part of the state agencies' overall implementation plans.

1-Year Agency Response

The Department of Justice (Justice) reported that it appointed a new bilingual services program coordinator to monitor the program, the biennial language survey, and the subsequent implementation plan. Justice also indicated that it has adopted and implemented new procedures that provide a higher level of quality control regarding reviewing and analyzing the language survey data in order to avoid future reporting errors. Justice also participated in the 2010 language survey and submitted an implementation plan to the Personnel Board in 2011. In addition, Justice formally analyzed its language survey results and determined that it had no true staffing deficiencies. Justice also established procedures for identifying written materials that require translation and its implementation plan included a corrective action plan describing how it will address its deficiencies in written materials. Finally, Justice also provides an option on its Web site that allows LEP clients to translate its Web site content into numerous other languages. (See 2012-406 p.68)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #14 To: Motor Vehicles, Department of

To ensure that they meet their constituents' language needs, state agencies should make certain that they accurately assess and report their clients' language needs to the State Personnel Board. State agencies should also analyze formally their language survey results and consider other available bilingual resources to determine their true staffing deficiencies. Further, state agencies should establish procedures to identify the written materials that the Act requires them to translate into other languages and ensure that such materials are translated or made accessible to the agencies' LEP clients. Finally, state agencies should develop detailed corrective action plans describing how and when they will address their staffing and written materials deficiencies. In addition, they should submit their corrective action plans to the State Personnel Board as part of the state agencies' overall implementation plans.

1-Year Agency Response

The Department of Motor Vehicles (Motor Vehicles) participated in the 2010 language survey and submitted an implementation plan to the Personnel Board in 2011. Motor Vehicles reported that it implemented improved procedures and incorporated additional checks and balances for the 2010 language survey to ensure that it accurately assessed and reported its LEP clients' language needs to the Personnel Board. In addition, Motor Vehicles formally analyzed its language survey results California State Auditor Report 2012-406 March 2012 and established procedures for identifying written materials that require translation. Finally, Motor Vehicles' prepared a corrective action plan describing how and when it will address its staffing and written materials deficiencies. (See 2012-406 p.68-69)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #15 To: Public Health, Department of

To ensure that they meet their constituents' language needs, state agencies should make certain that they accurately assess and report their clients' language needs to the State Personnel Board. State agencies should also analyze formally their language survey results and consider other available bilingual resources to determine their true staffing deficiencies. Further, state agencies should establish procedures to identify the written materials that the Act requires them to translate into other languages and ensure that such materials are translated or made accessible to the agencies' LEP clients. Finally, state agencies should develop detailed corrective action plans describing how and when they will address their staffing and written materials deficiencies. In addition, they should submit their corrective action plans to the State Personnel Board as part of the state agencies' overall implementation plans.

1-Year Agency Response

The Department of Public Health (Public Health) reported that it will continue to ensure that it accurately assesses and reports its clients' language needs to the Personnel Board. Public Health participated in the 2010 language survey and submitted an implementation plan to the Personnel Board in 2011. Public Health formally analyzed its language survey results and established procedures for identifying written materials that require translation. In addition, Public Health prepared a corrective action plan describing how and when it will address its staffing and written materials deficiencies. (See 2012-406 p.69)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #16 To: Toxic Substances Control, Department of

To ensure that they meet their constituents' language needs, state agencies should make certain that they accurately assess and report their clients' language needs to the State Personnel Board. State agencies should also analyze formally their language survey results and consider other available bilingual resources to determine their true staffing deficiencies. Further, state agencies should establish procedures to identify the written materials that the Act requires them to translate into other languages and ensure that such materials are translated or made accessible to the agencies' LEP clients. Finally, state agencies should develop detailed corrective action plans describing how and when they will address their staffing and written materials deficiencies. In addition, they should submit their corrective action plans to the State Personnel Board as part of the state agencies' overall implementation plans.

1-Year Agency Response

The Department of Toxic Substances Control (Toxic Substances Control) reported that it would continue to accurately assess and report its clients' language needs to the Personnel Board. Toxic Substances Control participated in the 2010 language survey and submitted an implementation plan to the Personnel Board in 2011. In addition, it established procedures for identifying written materials that require translation and formally analyzed its language survey results, concluding that it did not have any staffing or written materials deficiencies. (See 2012-46 p.69)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #17 To: Emergency Management Agency

State agencies should leverage General Services' and the Personnel Board's contracts for interpretation and translation services to potentially reduce the costs of providing bilingual services.

1-Year Agency Response

Emergency Management reported that when it determines a need for translation and interpreter services which cannot be provided by one of its certified bilingual employees, it will utilize General Services' list of California Multiple Award Schedules (CMAS) vendors and consult with the Personnel Board. (See 2012-406 p.69)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #18 To: Highway Patrol, California

State agencies should leverage General Services' and the Personnel Board's contracts for interpretation and translation services to potentially reduce the costs of providing bilingual services.

1-Year Agency Response

Highway Patrol reported that it complies with this recommendation and will continue to negotiate the lowest possible rates for bilingual services while ensuring quality deliverables. (See 2012-406 p.69)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #19 To: Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of

State agencies should leverage General Services' and the Personnel Board's contracts for interpretation and translation services to potentially reduce the costs of providing bilingual services.

1-Year Agency Response

Corrections indicated that it will routinely refer to General Services' and the Personnel Board's leveraged procurement agreements when bilingual service requests are within the ordering allowances for those contracts. In such instances, Corrections will utilize these agreements when they meet its specific business needs. (See 2012-406 p.70)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #20 To: Food and Agriculture, Department of

State agencies should leverage General Services' and the Personnel Board's contracts for interpretation and translation services to potentially reduce the costs of providing bilingual services.

1-Year Agency Response

Food and Agriculture reported that it has explored General Services' CMAS and the Personnel Board's language service providers for cost effective translation, American Sign Language interpretation, and bilingual staff certification services. (See 2012-406 p.70)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #21 To: Housing and Community Development, Department of

State agencies should leverage General Services' and the Personnel Board's contracts for interpretation and translation services to potentially reduce the costs of providing bilingual services.

1-Year Agency Response

In an effort to achieve the best service at the lowest cost possible, Housing reported that its equal employment opportunity officer contacted the Personnel Board to obtain information and pricing on its bilingual services contracts, and compared those prices to the rates of the CMAS and other vendors that it currently uses for its bilingual services needs. (See 2012-406 p.70)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #22 To: Justice, Department of

State agencies should leverage General Services' and the Personnel Board's contracts for interpretation and translation services to potentially reduce the costs of providing bilingual services.

1-Year Agency Response

Justice reported that it explored the state auditor's recommendation to leverage General Services' and the Personnel Board's contracts and found its current provider's services to be the most cost effective. (See 2012-406 p.70)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #23 To: Motor Vehicles, Department of

State agencies should leverage General Services' and the Personnel Board's contracts for interpretation and translation services to potentially reduce the costs of providing bilingual services.

1-Year Agency Response

Motor Vehicles reported that it already complies with this recommendation, and therefore, no further action is required. (See 2012-406 p.70)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #24 To: Public Health, Department of

State agencies should leverage General Services' and the Personnel Board's contracts for interpretation and translation services to potentially reduce the costs of providing bilingual services.

1-Year Agency Response

Public Health agrees that state agencies should leverage General Services' and the Personnel Board's contracts for interpretation and translation services to potentially reduce the costs of providing bilingual services. Public Health reported that it developed seven, two-hour training classes to educate its staff on various elements of the contracting and procurement process. It indicated that the fifth class in this series provides information on available leveraged procurement agreements, including General Services' and the Personnel Board's contracts for bilingual services. Public Health reported that it held the initial fifth class in October 2011, and it will repeat this training every 14 weeks. (See 2012-406 p.70)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #25 To: Toxic Substances Control, Department of

State agencies should leverage General Services' and the Personnel Board's contracts for interpretation and translation services to potentially reduce the costs of providing bilingual services.

1-Year Agency Response

Toxic Substances Control reported that it conducted a formal analysis of General Services' and the Personnel Board's contracts to potentially reduce its costs of providing bilingual services. Based on this analysis, it has decided to obtain a new contract for bilingual services through the CMAS process. (See 2012-406 p.70)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #26 To: Employment Development Department

State agencies should leverage General Services' and the Personnel Board's contracts for interpretation and translation services to potentially reduce the costs of providing bilingual services.

1-Year Agency Response

Employment Development reported that it leverages all of General Services' master and statewide contracts, including CMAS contracts, when appropriate for use. However, Employment Development stated that before contracting out for personal services with a private vendor, as is available through CMAS, it first considers an agreement with another state agency. (See 2012-406 p.70)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #27 To: Public Health, Department of

Public Health and Corrections should develop procedures to detect and prevent contract splitting.

1-Year Agency Response

Public Health reported that it developed seven training classes to educate its staff on the elements of the state's procurement and contracting process. It indicated that the first class in this series covered general procurement and contracting policies, including those governing service orders and the limitations on their use. Public Health reported that it held the initial class in July 2011, and it will repeat this training every 14 weeks. Public Health believes that these classes will enhance its adherence to its service order policies and mitigate the risk of future contract splitting. (See 2012-406 p.71)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

All Recommendations in 2010-106

Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.