Report 2013-036 Recommendations and Responses in 2015-041

Report 2013-036: Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund: Counties' Benefit Committees Did Not Always Comply With State Laws for Distribution Fund Grants

Department Number of Years Reported As Not Fully Implemented Total Recommendations to Department Not Implemented After One Year Not Implemented as of 2014-041 Response Not Implemented as of Most Recent Response
Butte County 1 7 2 N/A 2
Riverside County 1 3 1 N/A 1
San Diego County 1 5 1 N/A 1

Recommendation To: San Diego, County of

If San Diego County's benefit committee believes that its processes for distributing grant funds are vital to its effective management of distribution fund grants, it should seek legislative authority to change its process. Otherwise, San Diego County's benefit committee should refrain from placing limits on the time available for grant recipients to spend the grant funds.

Response

The County of San Diego has fully implemented an alternative solution as described in our previous response that we believe addresses the concern raised in the audit report and related recommendation. As such, the recommendation as issued in the report will not be implemented.


Recommendation To: Butte, County of

To ensure that grant recipients comply with state law concerning interest earned on mitigation grant funds, by June 2014, the Butte County benefit committee should establish policies and procedures to verify that grant recipients have placed grant awards in interest-bearing accounts, and that the interest is spent only on activities that mitigate the effect of tribal gaming on local jurisdictions.

Response

On April 13, 2014 the IGLCBC adopted by-laws that added the requirement to place grant funds in interest-bearing accounts and use interest earned on mitigating casino impacts. Additionally, the requirement to report on interest earnings was added to the annual report, which was accepted by the IGLCBC on September 16, 2015.


Recommendation To: Butte, County of

To ensure that the benefit committee members and other designated individuals comply with reform act requirements for filing statements of economic interests, after Butte County's benefit committee has appointed a filing officer, the filing officer should attend FPPC training and notify designated individuals of their responsibility to submit statements of economic interests and follow up with those who fail to file.

Response

On September 17, 2014, the Indian Gaming Local Community Benefits Committee adopted a Conflict of Interest Code, and appointed a Filing Officer. The Filing Officer has contacted the FPPC to schedule training, and will do so the next time it is offered.


Recommendation To: Riverside, County of

To comply with state law, benefit committees should ensure that they obtain sufficient documentation from grant applicants to demonstrate that proposed projects mitigate casino impacts. If applicable, that documentation should demonstrate that the requested funding represents a correct proportionate share of the costs attributable to casino impacts.

Response

During the last distribution of Indian Gaming Special Distribution Funds, Riverside County obtained sufficient documentation from grant applicants to demonstrate requested funding represented a correct proportionate share of the costs attributable to casino impacts.


Current Status of Recommendations

All Recommendations in 2015-041