Report I2012-1 Recommendation 19 Responses
Report I2012-1: Investigations of Improper Activities by State Agencies and Employees: Bribery, Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, Improper Overtime Payments, Improper Use of Lease Proceeds, Improper Travel Expenses, and Other Violations of State Law (Release Date: December 2012)
Case Number I2009-1218
Recommendation #19 To: Fish and Wildlife, Department of
Fish and Game should provide training to those involved with the lease to ensure that it properly accounts for and reconciles future work and payments related to the leased property, that it does not pay operational and equipment expenses with proceeds derived from the lease, and that all parties understand what work Fish and Game expects as the result of the agreement.
Agency Response From April 2014
Fish and Wildlife reported that it provided training in January 2014 that covered its new policy on land lease agreements, required forms and approvals, process flow, fiscal issues, and agreements with outside entities such as resource conservation districts. Fish and Wildlife stated that regional and headquarters staff, including regional managers, program managers, and other regional and headquarters staff, attended the training at its headquarters.
California State Auditor's Assessment of Status: Fully Implemented
Agency Response From October 2013
Fish and Wildlife's new lease templates prohibit improvements and repairs be made in lieu of making lease payments. As such, it is not necessary to train staff to ensure that it properly accounts for and reconciles the work and payments made for improvements against the lease. However, we still recommend that Fish and Wildlife provide training to those involved with its leasing process. For this, Fish and Wildlife reported that it issued a department bulletin regarding its policies, procedures, and processes governing land lease agreements. The bulletin includes discussions of Fish and Wildlife's expectations of its employees throughout the leasing process, including soliciting and selecting lessees, drafting lease agreements, reviewing and approving a lease, and managing the agreement once it has been executed. Fish and Wildlife stated that it would work with regional staff to ensure they are properly trained on the new process and expects training to take place prior to February 2014.
California State Auditor's Assessment of Status: Partially Implemented
Agency Response From December 2012
Fish and Game has failed to provide a response. (See 2013-406, p. 284)