Audits Reported to Budget Subcommittees and Standing/Policy Committees - 2003 - Listed by Policy Area

View individual write ups for budget and standing/policy subcommittees by clicking on report titles.

View executive summaries for original reports by clicking on report numbers (executive summaries are linked to the complete original report in PDF format).

View the complete subcommittee report in PDF format

Categories

Introduction
Agriculture and Water Resources
Banking, Finance, Commerce, and International Trade
Business and Professions
Education
Energy, Utilities, and Communication
Environmental Safety and Quality and Toxic Materials
Governmental Organization
Health and Human Services
Housing and Community Development
Insurance
Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy
Judiciary
Labor, Employment, and Industrial Relations
Local Government
Natural Resources, Parks, and Wildlife
Prison Construction and Operations
Public Employees, Retirement, and Social Security
Privacy and Public Safety
Transportation
Veterans Affairs
Appendix - Summary of Recommendations for Legislative Consideration by Policy Area
Index - State and Local Entities Responding to Audits Included in This Report

Agriculture and Water Resources

Report Number 2000-115
Central Basin Municipal Water District: Its Poorly Planned Recycled-Water Project Has Burdened Taxpayers but May Be Moving Toward Self-Sufficiency

Banking, Finance, Commerce, and International Trade

Report Number 2001-115
Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency: Its Strategic Planning Is Fragmented and Incomplete, and Its International Division Needs to Better Coordinate With Other Entities, but Its Economic Development Division Customers Generally Are Satisfied

Business and Professions

Report Number 2000-117
The State's Real Property Assets: The State Has Identified Surplus Real Property, but Some of Its Property Management Processes Are Ineffective

Report Number 99030
State Bar of California: It Has Improved Its Disciplinary Process, Stewardship of Members Fees, and Administrative Practices, but Its Cost Recovery and Controls Over Expenses Need Strengthening

Report Number 2000-118
Information Technology: The State Needs to Improve the Leadership and Management of Its Information Technology Efforts

Report Number 2001-108
Department of Corrections: Its Fiscal Practices and Internal Controls Are Inadequate To Ensure Fiscal Responsibility

Report Number 2001-117
Superior Courts: The Courts Are Moving Toward a More Unified Administration; However, Diverse Service, Collection, and Accounting Systems Impede the Accurate Estimation and Equitable Distribution of Undesignated Fee Revenue

Report Number 2001-110
Vacant Positions: Departments Have Circumvented the Abolishment of Vacant Positions, and the State Needs to Continue Its Efforts to Control Vacancies

Report Number 2001-128
Enterprise Licensing Agreement: The State Failed to Exercise Due Diligence When Contracting With Oracle, Potentially Costing Taxpayers Millions of Dollars

Report Number I2002-1
Contractors State Licensing Board: Investigations of Improper Activities by State Employees (Allegation I2000-753)

Report Number 2002-107
Office of Criminal Justice Planning: Experiences Problems in Program Administration, and Alternative Administrative Structures for the Domestic Violence Program Might Improve Program Delivery

Report Number 2002-108
Department of General Services: Certain Units Can Do More to Ensure That Client Fees Are Reasonable and Fair

Education

Report Number 2000-130
University of California: New Policies Should Make Career Appointments Available to More Employees and Make Campus Practices More Consistent

Report Number 2000-131
University of California: Some Campuses and Academic Departments Need to Take Additional Steps to Resolve Gender Disparities Among Professors

Report Number 2000-125
Los Angeles Unified School District: It Has Made Some Progress in Its Reorganization but Has Not Ensured That Every Salary Level It Awards Is Appropriate

Report Number 2001-120
School Bus Safety II: State Law Intended to Make School Bus Transportation Safer Is Costing More Than Expected

Report Number 2001-124
Los Angeles Unified School District: Outdated, Scarce Textbooks at Some Schools Appear to Have a Lesser Effect on Academic Performance Than Other Factors, but the District Should Improve Its Management of Textbook Purchasing and Inventory

Report Number 2001-130
University of California: Its Partnership Agreement Could Be Improved to Increase Its Accountability for State Funding

Report Number 2002-104
California's Charter Schools: Oversight at All Levels Could Be Stronger to Ensure Charter Schools' Accountability

Energy, Utilities, and Communication

Report Number 2000-134.1
Energy Deregulation: The Benefits of Competition Were Undermined by Structural Flaws in the Market, Unsuccessful Oversight, and Uncontrollable Competitive Forces

Report Number 2000-134.2
Energy Deregulation: The States Energy Balance Remains Uncertain but Could Improve With Changes to Its Energy Programs and Generation and Transmission Siting

Report Number 2001-118
California Energy Commission: Although External Factors Have Caused Delays in Its Approval of Sites, Its Application Process Is Reasonable

Report Number 2001-111.1
Blackout Preparedness: The Office of Emergency Services and the California National Guard Each Have Weaknesses in Their Blackout Preparations

Report Number 2001-009
California Energy Markets: Pressures Have Eased, but Cost Risks Remain

Report Number 2001-123
Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program: Insufficient Monitoring of Surcharge Revenues Combined With Imprudent Use of Public Funds Leave Less Money Available for Program Services

Environmental Safety and Quality and Toxic Materials

Report Number 2000-013
Department of Health Services: Additional Improvements Are Needed to Ensure Children Are Adequately Protected From Lead Poisoning

Governmental Organization

Report Number 2000-133
California Earthquake Authority: It Has Taken Steps to Control High Reinsurance Costs, but as Yet Its Mitigation Program Has Had Limited Success

Report Number 2000-129
Department of Housing and Community Development: Poor Administration of Certain Aspects of the California Natural Disaster Assistance Program for Loma Prieta Earthquake Victims Could Result in Inappropriate Loan Forgiveness

Report Number 2001-111.2
California National Guard: To Better Respond to State Emergencies and Disasters, It Can Improve Its Aviation Maintenance and Its Processes of Preparing for and Assessing State Missions

Health and Human Services

Report Number 2000-013
Department of Health Services: Additional Improvements Are Needed to Ensure Children Are Adequately Protected From Lead Poisoning

Report Number 99020
Department of Rehabilitation: The Business Enterprises Program for the Blind Is Financially Sound, but It Has Not Reached Its Potential

Report Number 2001-104
Department of Corrections: Though Improving, the Department Still Does Not Identify and Serve All Parolees Needing Outpatient Clinic Program Services, but Increased Caseloads Might Strain Clinic Resources

Report Number 2001-012
State of California: Its Containment of Drug Costs and Management of Medications for Adult Inmates Continue to Require Significant Improvements

Report Number 2001-129
Department of Health Services: It Needs to Significantly Improve Its Management of the Medi-Cal Provider Enrollment Process

Report Number 2001-126
Department of Managed Health Care: Assessments for Specialized and Full-Service HMOs Do Not Reflect Its Workload and Have Disparate Financial Impacts

Report Number 2001-123
Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program: Insufficient Monitoring of Surcharge Revenues Combined With Imprudent Use of Public Funds Leave Less Money Available for Program Services

Report Number 2002-031
Department of Rehabilitation: Its Delay in Correcting Known Weaknesses Has Limited the Success of the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind

Report Number 2002-109
Department of Health Services: It Needs to Better Control the Pricing of Durable Medical Equipment and Medical Supplies and More Carefully Consider Its Plans to Reduce Expenditures on These Items

Report Number 2001-015
Statewide Fingerprint Imaging System: The State Must Weigh Factors Other Than Need and Cost-Effectiveness When Determining Future Funding for the System

Housing and Community Development

Report Number 2000-129
Department of Housing and Community Development: Poor Administration of Certain Aspects of the California Natural Disaster Assistance Program for Loma Prieta Earthquake Victims Could Result in Inappropriate Loan Forgiveness

Insurance

Report Number 2000-133
California Earthquake Authority: It Has Taken Steps to Control High Reinsurance Costs, but as Yet Its Mitigation Program Has Had Limited Success

Report Number 2000-132
Department of Veterans Affairs: Its Life and Disability Insurance Program, Financially Weakened by Past Neglect, Offers Reduced Insurance Benefits to Veterans and Faces an Uncertain Future

Report Number 2001-102
Department of Insurance Conservation and Liquidation Office: Stronger Oversight Is Needed to Properly Safeguard Insurance Companies' Assets

Report Number 2001-126
Department of Managed Health Care: Assessments for Specialized and Full-Service HMOs Do Not Reflect Its Workload and Have Disparate Financial Impacts

Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy

Report Number 2001-107
Port of Oakland: Despite its Overall Financial Success, Recent Events May Hamper Expansion Plans That Would Likely Benefit the Port and the Public

Report Number 2001-115
Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency: Its Strategic Planning Is Fragmented and Incomplete, and Its International Division Needs to Better Coordinate With Other Entities, but Its Economic Development Division Customers Generally Are Satisfied

Report Number 2001-116
San Diego Unified Port District: It Should Change Certain Practices to Better Protect the Public's Interest in Port-Managed Resources

Judiciary

Report Number 99030
State Bar of California: It Has Improved Its Disciplinary Process, Stewardship of Members Fees, and Administrative Practices, but Its Cost Recovery and Controls Over Expenses Need Strengthening

Report Number 2001-117
Superior Courts: The Courts Are Moving Toward a More Unified Administration; However, Diverse Service, Collection, and Accounting Systems Impede the Accurate Estimation and Equitable Distribution of Undesignated Fee Revenue

Labor, Employment, and Industrial Relations

Report Number I2001-1
Department of Corrections: Investigations of Improper Activities by State Employees (Allegation I990136)

Report Number I2001-1
Department of Transportation: Investigations of Improper Activities by State Employees (Allegation I980141)

Report Number 2000-130
University of California: New Policies Should Make Career Appointments Available to More Employees and Make Campus Practices More Consistent

Report Number 2000-131
University of California: Some Campuses and Academic Departments Need to Take Additional Steps to Resolve Gender Disparities Among Professors

Report Number 99031
Employment Development Department: Although New Telephone Services Have Enhanced Customer Access to the Department's Unemployment and Disability Insurance Programs, Customers Encounter Difficulties During Peak Calling Periods

Report Number 2000-125
Los Angeles Unified School District: It Has Made Some Progress in Its Reorganization but Has Not Ensured That Every Salary Level It Awards Is Appropriate

Report Number 2001-017
Department of Industrial Relations: Its Process for Verifying the Status of Licenses Issued to Farm Labor Contractors Is Operational but Needs Some Improvement

Local Government

Report Number 2001-101
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority: It Can Increase Its Efforts to Ensure the Safe Operation of Its Buses

Report Number 2001-107
Port of Oakland: Despite its Overall Financial Success, Recent Events May Hamper Expansion Plans That Would Likely Benefit the Port and the Public

Report Number 2001-116
San Diego Unified Port District: It Should Change Certain Practices to Better Protect the Public's Interest in Port-Managed Resources

Report Number 2000-016
Water Replenishment District of Southern California: Although the District Has Eliminated Excessive Water Rates, It Has Depleted Its Reserve Funds and Needs to Further Improve Its Administrative Practices

Report Number 2001-124
Los Angeles Unified School District: Outdated, Scarce Textbooks at Some Schools Appear to Have a Lesser Effect on Academic Performance Than Other Factors, but the District Should Improve Its Management of Textbook Purchasing and Inventory

Natural Resources, Parks, and Wildlife

Report Number 2000-117
The State's Real Property Assets: The State Has Identified Surplus Real Property, but Some of Its Property Management Processes Are Ineffective

Report Number 2000-134.1
Energy Deregulation: The Benefits of Competition Were Undermined by Structural Flaws in the Market, Unsuccessful Oversight, and Uncontrollable Competitive Forces

Report Number 2000-115
Central Basin Municipal Water District: Its Poorly Planned Recycled-Water Project Has Burdened Taxpayers but May Be Moving Toward Self-Sufficiency

Report Number 2000-134.2
Energy Deregulation: The States Energy Balance Remains Uncertain but Could Improve With Changes to Its Energy Programs and Generation and Transmission Siting

Report Number 2001-118
California Energy Commission: Although External Factors Have Caused Delays in Its Approval of Sites, Its Application Process Is Reasonable

Report Number 2001-111.1
Blackout Preparedness: The Office of Emergency Services and the California National Guard Each Have Weaknesses in Their Blackout Preparations

Report Number 2001-009
California Energy Markets: Pressures Have Eased, but Cost Risks Remain

Report Number 2000-016
Water Replenishment District of Southern California: Although the District Has Eliminated Excessive Water Rates, It Has Depleted Its Reserve Funds and Needs to Further Improve Its Administrative Practices

Prison Construction and Operations

Report Number 2001-104
Department of Corrections: Though Improving, the Department Still Does Not Identify and Serve All Parolees Needing Outpatient Clinic Program Services, but Increased Caseloads Might Strain Clinic Resources

Report Number 2001-108
Department of Corrections: Its Fiscal Practices and Internal Controls Are Inadequate To Ensure Fiscal Responsibility

Public Employees, Retirement, and Social Security

Report Number 2001-110
Vacant Positions: Departments Have Circumvented the Abolishment of Vacant Positions, and the State Needs to Continue Its Efforts to Control Vacancies

Report Number 2002-101
Department of Corrections: A Shortage of Correctional Officers, Along With Costly Labor Agreement Provisions, Raises Both Fiscal and Safety Concerns and Limits Management's Control

Report Number I2002-2
Office of Emergency Services: Investigations of Improper Activities by State Employees (Allegation I2000-607)

Privacy and Public Safety

Report Number 2001-104
Department of Corrections: Though Improving, the Department Still Does Not Identify and Serve All Parolees Needing Outpatient Clinic Program Services, but Increased Caseloads Might Strain Clinic Resources

Report Number 2001-108
Department of Corrections: Its Fiscal Practices and Internal Controls Are Inadequate To Ensure Fiscal Responsibility

Report Number 2002-101
Department of Corrections: A Shortage of Correctional Officers, Along With Costly Labor Agreement Provisions, Raises Both Fiscal and Safety Concerns and Limits Management's Control

Transportation

Report Number 2001-101
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority: It Can Increase Its Efforts to Ensure the Safe Operation of Its Buses

Report Number 2001-103
Department of Motor Vehicles: Although Unable to Measure the Extent of Identity Fraud and the Effect of Recent Reforms, It Should Improve Its Technology, Procedures, and Staffing Further

Report Number 2001-010
Department of Transportation: Its Seismic Retrofit Expenditures Generally Comply With the Bond Act, and It Has Begun to Reimburse the Interim Funding for Fiscal Years 1994-95 and 1995-96

Report Number 2001-120
School Bus Safety II: State Law Intended to Make School Bus Transportation Safer Is Costing More Than Expected

Report Number 2001-125
Red Light Camera Programs: Although They Have Contributed to a Reduction in Accidents, Operational Weaknesses Exist at the Local Level

Report Number 2002-103
Department of Transportation: It Manages the State Highway Operation and Protection Program Adequately, but it Can Make Improvements

Veterans Affairs

Report Number 2000-132
Department of Veterans Affairs: Its Life and Disability Insurance Program, Financially Weakened by Past Neglect, Offers Reduced Insurance Benefits to Veterans and Faces an Uncertain Future

Report Number 2001-113
Department of Veterans Affairs: Weak Management and Poor Internal Controls Have Prevented the Department From Establishing an Effective Cash Collection System

Report Number 2001-127
Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program: Few Departments That Award Contracts Have Met the Potentially Unreasonable Participation Goal, and Weak Implementation of the Program Further Hampers Success

Report Number I2002-2
Veterans Home of California, Yountville: Investigations of Improper Activities by State Employees (Allegation I2000-876)