Report 2012-119 Recommendation 6 Responses

Report 2012-119: California Department of Veterans Affairs: It Has Initiated Plans to Serve Veterans Better and More Cost-Efficiently, but Further Improvements Are Needed (Release Date: May 2013)

Recommendation #6 To: Veterans Affairs, Department of

To better utilize unused space at the veterans homes, and to serve more veterans within legal restrictions, CalVet should develop and implement procedures for periodically evaluating all of the veterans homes to identify opportunities to enhance use of unused space and increase revenue generation, including documenting the results of its evaluations.

1-Year Agency Response

Capital Outlay Unit Policies and Procedures have been updated to reflect evaluation criteria for the purposes of utilizing unused space. Policies and Procedures were updated in December 2013 to reflect criteria for unused space. CalVet has determined that a focus on identifying opportunities to arrange partnerships to utilized unused space will take away from its focus on long-term care of veterans and has removed this goal from its strategic plan. This shift is reflected in a letter from the Undersecretary to the Secretary that has been provided. The updated Policies and Procedures provide a mechanism through which such arrangements may be made, when needed, but the department will not focus on regular evaluations per the change in its strategic plan.

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

6-Month Agency Response

Policies and procedures have been provided to each of the Home administrators to ensure the proper implementation of lease guidelines. Evaluation criteria for unused space and revenue is currently underway. Target date for the revision of those polices and procedures will be completed by December 31, 2013.

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

60-Day Agency Response

Policies and Procedures for securing leases or agreements for unused space have been developed by the Capital Assets Unit. Further development of those policies shall include periodic evaluation of each veterans home in regards to unused space as well as opportunities for general fund revenue. Policies and procedures have been provided to each of the Home administrators to ensure the proper implementation of lease guidelines. Evaluation criteria for unused space and revenue is currently underway. Target date for the revision of those polices and procedures will be completed by December 31, 2013.

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

All Recommendations in 2012-119

Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.