Finding 623700 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-05-07
Audit: 46426
Organization: Legal Aid of Northwest Texas (TX)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Some staff agreements confirming understanding of case priorities were missing, risking non-compliance with grant requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with LSC regulations mandates that all relevant staff must sign agreements regarding case handling and emergency procedures.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review and ensure all staff agreements are signed and retained; implement procedures for timely compliance checks.

Finding Text

Major Federal Program: 09.744050 ? Legal Services Corporation ? Basic Field Grant Compliance Requirements: Allowable Activities Criteria: The Compliance Supplement for Audits of LSC Recipients and LSC Regulations 45 CFR? 1620.6 require that all staff who handle cases or matters, or make decisions about which cases to accept, are required to sign an agreement indicating that the staff has read and understands the priorities established by the governing body of the entity; has read and understands the definition of an emergency situation and the procedures for dealing with an emergency that falls outside of the entity?s established priorities; and will not undertake any case or matter for the recipient that is not a priority or an emergency. Audit procedures revealed that these signed agreements were not adequately reviewed and retained for all employees for the year ended December 31, 2022. Condition: (X) Compliance Finding (X) Significant Deficiency ( ) Material Weakness Context: Of 40 staff selected for testing, signed agreements were unable to be located for 4 individuals. Effect and Questioned Costs: Ineligible cases or matters could be undertaken outside of the entity?s established priorities, and may result in materially misstating cases or matters served both for grant compliance and financial reporting. Questioned costs were indeterminable. Recommendation: We recommend that files for all employees who handle cases or matters be thoroughly reviewed, to ensure timely completeness and signing of agreements in order to be in compliance with grant requirements. We also recommend review procedures be put in place to ensure the agreements are signed appropriately and timely. Response: See Corrective Action Plan

Categories

Eligibility Material Weakness Reporting Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 47258 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
09.U01 Basic Field Grant $10.96M
21.023 Emergency Rental Assistance Program $770,534
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $602,157
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $218,095
09.U01 Pro Bono Innovation Fund $156,611
21.008 Low Income Taxpayer Clinics $100,000
09.U01 Lsc Supplemental Disaster $86,910
16.582 Crime Victim Assistance/discretionary Grants $35,977
16.524 Legal Assistance for Victims $26,559
93.568 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance $19,964
16.575 Crime Victim Assistance $8,799
64.033 Va Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program $7,586