Report I2019-4 Recommendation 8 Responses
Report I2019-4: Gross Mismanagement Led to the Misuse of State Resources and Multiple Violations of State Laws (Release Date: August 2019)
Case Number I2017-0840
Recommendation #8 To: Food and Agriculture, Department of
Association:
Recoup all travel expenses from employees and board members who exceeded the allowable travel reimbursement amounts for lodging and meals or who improperly traveled to banned states.
Agency Response From May 2020
CDFA reported that it recommended that the association collect $6,400 from the CEO and the deputy manager for excessive out-of-state meal expenses. It provided documentation that the vice chair for the association board reimbursed the $6,400 to the association. It stated that it did not recommend any amounts to collect from board members because it was not able to identify which board members were in attendance at each meal and because many of those who may have attended were no longer active board members and, in one case, a board member was deceased.
California State Auditor's Assessment of Status: Resolved
Agency Response From February 2020
CDFA reported that in January 2020, it presented to the association board its findings regarding excessive meal costs for out-of-state travel. It stated that it expected the board to accept its recommendations and request staff to reimburse the association for excessive meal costs by February 2020.
California State Auditor's Assessment of Status: Pending
Agency Response From October 2019
In September 2019, CDFA reported that it had requested travel claims from the association related to out-of-state travel. In October 2019, CDFA stated that it asked the association to prepare a worksheet to help identify the inappropriate travel. It estimated that the association would fully implement the recommendation by November or December 2019.