Agenda

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PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	05/11/2015
Subject: CY2014 STATUS UPDATE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FRAUD INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION EFFORTS
Submitted For:	PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE
Department:	County Administrator
Referral No.:	N/A
Referral Name:	CY2014 STATUS UPDATE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FRAUD INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION EFFORTS
Presenter:	Mark Peterson, District Attorney & Kathy Gallagher, EHS Director	Contact:	Timothy Ewell, (925) 335-1036

Information

Referral History:

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.

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.

Referral Update:

The District Attorney's Office and Employment and Human Services department have submitted individual reports this year and will present each to the Committee separately.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(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.

Fiscal Impact (if any):

No fiscal impact. This report is informational only.

Attachments
District Attorney Report
Employment and Human Services Department Report