Agenda

Return

C.116

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE
Date:	October 18, 2016

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FRAUD INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION EFFORTS

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 10/18/2016

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Timothy Ewell, 925-335-1036

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: October 18, 2016
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ACCEPT a status report from the District Attorney and the Employment and Human Services Director on Public Assistance Fraud investigation and prosecution efforts within the County, as recommended by the Public Protection Committee.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No fiscal impact. This report is informational only.

BACKGROUND:

This referral began in September 2006, when the Employment and Human Services (EHS) Department updated the Internal Operations Committee (IOC) on its efforts to improve internal security and loss prevention activities. The IOC had requested the department to report back in nine months on any tools and procedures that have been developed and implemented to detect changes in income eligibility for welfare benefits.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The EHS Director made follow-up reports to IOC in May and October 2007, describing what policies, procedures, and practices are employed by the Department to ensure that public benefits are provided only to those who continue to meet income eligibility requirements, explaining the complaint and follow-through process, and providing statistical data for 2005/06, 2006/07, and for the first quarter of 2007/08.

Upon creation of the PPC in January 2008, this matter was reassigned from the IOC to the PPC. PPC received a status report on this referral in October 2008 and, again, in June 2010. The Committee requested staff to report back on how the County’s program compares to a statewide fraud rate, if such a rate exists. The Committee also requested a follow-up report on the IHSS fraud program and the transition of welfare fraud collections from the Office of Revenue Collection (now disbanded) to the Employment and Human Services Department.

On October 18, 2010, the PPC received a status report from the District Attorney and the Employment and Human Services Director on the Welfare Fraud Investigations and Prosecutions Program, addressing the specific questions of the PPC from the June 21 meeting. As the PPC wishes to monitor performance of the welfare fraud program, it is recommended that this matter be retained on referral with a follow-up report in one year.

At the December 2013 meeting, the Committee received an update on CY 2013 Public Assistance fraud programs in the County and directed Committee staff to continue this referral to the following year. Due to scheduling, the Committee has not been able to receive a report on CY 2014 programs until today's meeting.

At the May 2015 meeting, the Committee received an update on the CY 2014 Public Assistance fraud programs.

At the September 2016 meeting, the District Attorney's Office and Employment and Human Services department submitted a joint report on the status of public assistance fraud in Contra Costa County for FY 2014/15. The Committee agreed to forward the report on to the Board of Supervisors.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The Board would not accept the status report on Public Assistance Fraud investigation and prosecution efforts for the County.