Report 2019-111 Recommendation 23 Responses

Report 2019-111: Mobile Home Park Inspections: The Department of Housing and Community Development Must Improve Its Inspection Processes to Better Protect Park Residents (Release Date: July 2020)

Recommendation #23 To: Housing and Community Development, Department of

To ensure that it complies with state law regarding reporting requirements for Form 700s, by August 2020 HCD should notify inspectors with missing Form 700s of their responsibility to file and the potential penalties that may be assessed if they fail to do so. HCD should notify the Fair Political Practices Commission about any inspectors who do not submit the forms as required after notification was sent as well as those who should have submitted Form 700s but who cannot be located as of August 2020.

6-Month Agency Response

Second Notice letters regarding form 700 filing non-compliance (relating to missing annual statements and/or leaving office statements) were mailed/emailed to non-compliant individuals on or about October 12, 2020. Non-compliant individuals who do not respond to the Second Notice Letters within 45 days will be referred to the Fair Political Practice Commission (FPPC) per FPPC guidelines. Emails/letters relating to individuals who have failed to file assuming office statements/annual statements will be sent once new form 700 staff member is hired.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

HCD implemented our recommendation by notifying the Fair Political Practices Commission in February 2021 of the inspectors who had not submitted Form 700s as required.

60-Day Agency Response

HR and Legal Affairs Division (LAD) are working on a new statement of incompatible activities. LAD has requested and received copies of statement of incompatible activities from other agencies and is currently reviewing those drafts and working on a revision version. Draft revision will be circulated on or before September 18.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

HCD's response does not address the recommendation. The new statement of incompatible activities that HCD references is not relevant to our recommendation. Our recommendation specifies that HCD should notify inspectors with missing Form 700s of their responsibility to file the Form 700 and the potential penalties that may be assessed if they fail to do so. HCD should also notify the Fair Political Practices Commission about any inspectors who do not submit the forms as required after notification was sent as well as those who should have submitted Form 700s but who HCD cannot locate.

All Recommendations in 2019-111

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.