Report 2013-036 Recommendation 19 Responses

Report 2013-036: Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund: Counties' Benefit Committees Did Not Always Comply With State Laws for Distribution Fund Grants (Release Date: March 2014)

Recommendation #19 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.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2016

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 taken the FPPC training on February 10, 2016.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2015

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.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented

As indicated in the response the filing officer has not yet attended the FPPC training. Also, Butte County has not provided documentation to demonstrate that the filing officer notified designated individuals of their responsibility to submit statements of economic interests and followed up with any individuals who failed to file.

1-Year Agency Response

The BCIGLCBC adopted its conflict of interest code on 9/17/14, and named the filing officer. The filing officer is expected to attend FPPC training to understand their responsibilities and to notify designated individuals of their responsibility to submit Form 700 filings. The FPPC does not have regularly scheduled trainings, but does offer it periodically. Staff has registered with the FPPC, but as of this writing, the FPPC has not scheduled training. Upon notification from the FPPC, staff will attend the training.

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

Butte County provided documentation that it has reached out to the FPPC to schedule a training but has not been able to attend yet.

6-Month Agency Response

The conflict of interest code is on the 9/17/14 LCBC meeting agenda and is expected to be adopted at that time. The code names the filing officer, who will attend FPPC training. Per the FPPC, training is offered after the start of a new calendar year "in preparation for the spring filing season." No actual dates for training has been set by the FPPC as of this writing, but will certainly be prior to March 31, 2015. The filing officer will notify designated filers of their responsibilities and to follow up with those who fail to file.

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

As noted in Butte's response, this recommendation is not yet fully implemented. The filing officer has not yet attended FPPC training, notified designated filers of their responsibilities, or followed up with those failing to file.

60-Day Agency Response

It is anticipated that in conjunction with the adoption of the conflict of interest code, the committee will appoint a filing officer and direct the filing officer to attend FPPC training and notify designated filers of their responsibilities and to follow up with those who fail to file.

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

All Recommendations in 2013-036

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.