Dear Mr. Waguespack: In response to the identified deficiencies in the oversight for Summer EBT Program for Children, the agency submits the following formal response. The agency acknowledges and concurs in part with the specific finding while clarifying the operational context of the Summer EBT Pro...
Dear Mr. Waguespack: In response to the identified deficiencies in the oversight for Summer EBT Program for Children, the agency submits the following formal response. The agency acknowledges and concurs in part with the specific finding while clarifying the operational context of the Summer EBT Program for Children. As a newly established administrative initiative launched in 2024, the program operated under a transitional framework where formal data entry and reporting to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) were not mandated until January 2025. To facilitate these requirements, staff members had to secure access to the Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS), which necessitated a single user holding dual responsibilities for both data entry and certification. Due to the new implementation of the program and the specific time constraints imposed by the FPRS reporting cycle, the department was initially unaware of the stringent internal control requirements regarding the separation of duties. Once aware, on August 13, 2025, the department began the process, submitted the required FNS User Access Request Form 674, to comply with the control access with the separation of duties. During this process, on October 1, 2025, the Agency integrated with the Louisiana Department of Health, which required the process to start over again, which caused a delay. The request for additional user certifications to FPRS remains pending. Nevertheless, the Program Manager maintained oversight by performing manual data validations prior to final submission to ensure accuracy. As of February 19, 2026, a formal corrective action plan is currently being executed to resolve the specific Louisiana Legislative Auditor finding related to internal controls. Under the direction of Economic Independence Manager, Yulonda Reed, the section has engaged in staff discussions to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the necessary procedural shifts. This adjustment will enforce a strict separation of duties, effectively isolating the functions of data entry from the final certification process to mitigate the risk of error. The administrative timeline for finalizing this finding is dependent upon the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) reviewing and granting authorization for the FNS-674 User Access Request Form. This procedural requirement ensures that all personnel involved in data collection or system analysis have the requisite security clearances and system permissions mandated by federal information security protocols.