Audit 23277

FY End
2022-12-31
Total Expended
$6.89M
Findings
2
Programs
11
Year: 2022 Accepted: 2023-08-20
Auditor: Bbd LLP

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
25556 2022-010 - - E
601998 2022-010 - - E

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
09.339 Basic Field Grant $4.36M Yes 1
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $400,269 - 0
21.019 Coronavirus Relief Fund $303,430 - 0
16.575 Crime Victim Assistance $256,851 - 0
09.338 Technology Initiative Grant $232,103 Yes 0
16.021 Justice Systems Response to Families $210,253 - 0
09.339 Migrant Grant $180,818 Yes 0
21.008 Low Income Taxpayer Clinics $100,000 - 0
93.527 Affordable Care Act (aca) Grants for New and Expanded Services Under the Health Center Program $56,500 - 0
16.524 Legal Assistance for Victims $56,305 - 0
17.225 Unemployment Insurance $40,306 - 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
WF9BUCZVKKE6 Susan Tripp Auditee
2159813480 Melissa Dunn Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Accounting Policies: (1) BASIS OF PRESENTATIONThe accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal and local awards presents the activities in all federal andlocal award programs of PLA. All financial assistance received directly from federal agencies, as well as financialawards passed through other governmental and nonprofit agencies, are presented on the schedule of expendituresof federal and local awards. The information in this schedule is presented in accordance with Title 2 U.S. Code ofFederal Regulations ("CFR") Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and AuditRequirements for Federal Awards (the "Uniform Guidance"). Therefore, some amounts presented in this schedulemay differ from amounts presented in, or used in the preparation of, the basic financial statements.(2) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIESExpenditures reported on the schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expendituresare recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types ofexpenditures are not allowable or are limited to reimbursement. PLA has not elected to use the 10-percentde minimus indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance.For the Legal Services Corporation Basic Field Grant and Migrant Grant, the expenditures in 2022 exceededthe 2022 grant amount. PLA received the same LSC grants in previous calendar year periods andunderspent those grants. Under LSC policy, PLA may carry forward an LSC fund balance that it may spendin future years. LSC grantees must request approval from LSC if they carry forward more than 10% of theirLSC fund balance and must provide a plan for spending down the fund balance. In 2022, PLA spent downits 2021 LSC fund balance, which is why the expenditures exceeded the grant amount.(3) RELATIONSHIP TO BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFederal and local award expenditures are reported on the statements of activities as expenses. Amountsrequired to be reported on the schedule of expenditures of federal and local awards may differ from expensesreported in the basic financial statements due to presentation differences for nongrant sources whichprovided support for the program.(4) SUBRECIPIENT FUNDINGThe accompanying Schedule of Expenditures of Federal and Local Awards reflects $498,945 that wassubcontracted to other organizations as follows:Legal Services Corporation ALN #09.339000 & #09.338999Philadelphia VIP $ 13,025Upsolve Inc. 211,411Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project 96,617321,053U.S. Department of Justice ALN #16.524Justice at Work 30,108Women Organized Against Rape 26,648HIAS 31,40188,157U.S. Department of Justice ALN #16.021HIAS 4,333Women Against Abuse, Inc. 67,742Women Organized Against Rape 17,66089,735Total subcontracts $ 498,945- De Minimis Rate Used: Y Rate Explanation: The auditee used the de minimis cost rate.

Finding Details

Finding 2022-01 LSC Corporation - 09.339000 Grant period: 01/01/2022 ? 12/31/2022 Condition: Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center, Inc. is required to establish a recordkeeping system that maintains appropriate documentation to ensure compliance with 45 CFR ? 1626, which relates to restrictions on legal assistance to aliens. Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center, Inc. did not maintain appropriate documentation in all of its case files. Criteria: Except when the only legal service provided is brief advice and consultation by telephone or other nonin- person means, a citizen seeking representation must attest in writing in an LSC-approved form (citizen attestation statement) to the fact of his or her United States citizenship. Cause: Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center, Inc. has procedures in place to maintain citizen attestation statements to ensure compliance with 45 CFR ? 1626; however, some case files did not include this documentation due to an oversight in the case file review process. Effect: Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center, Inc. did not maintain appropriate documentation to ensure compliance with 45 CFR ? 1626. Context: A sample of 60 case files were examined during the audit from a population of approximately 9,500. Of the 60 case files examined, 3 case files did not include the citizen attestation statement. Recommendation: Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center, Inc. should re-emphasize to its staff that certain case files that must include citizen attestation statements include this document. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center, Inc. agrees with the finding and will re-emphasize that certain case files that must include citizen attestation statements include this document.
Finding 2022-01 LSC Corporation - 09.339000 Grant period: 01/01/2022 ? 12/31/2022 Condition: Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center, Inc. is required to establish a recordkeeping system that maintains appropriate documentation to ensure compliance with 45 CFR ? 1626, which relates to restrictions on legal assistance to aliens. Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center, Inc. did not maintain appropriate documentation in all of its case files. Criteria: Except when the only legal service provided is brief advice and consultation by telephone or other nonin- person means, a citizen seeking representation must attest in writing in an LSC-approved form (citizen attestation statement) to the fact of his or her United States citizenship. Cause: Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center, Inc. has procedures in place to maintain citizen attestation statements to ensure compliance with 45 CFR ? 1626; however, some case files did not include this documentation due to an oversight in the case file review process. Effect: Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center, Inc. did not maintain appropriate documentation to ensure compliance with 45 CFR ? 1626. Context: A sample of 60 case files were examined during the audit from a population of approximately 9,500. Of the 60 case files examined, 3 case files did not include the citizen attestation statement. Recommendation: Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center, Inc. should re-emphasize to its staff that certain case files that must include citizen attestation statements include this document. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center, Inc. agrees with the finding and will re-emphasize that certain case files that must include citizen attestation statements include this document.