(The Center Square) — A recent audit reported that the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness did not comply with reporting requirements for the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act.
This is not the first instance either. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor noted that this is the second consecutive year that the homeland security office has not complied with specific reporting requirements in federal law — this year for two programs.
According to the auditor’s office, the Hazard Mitigation Grant and Flood Mitigation Assistance programs must report specific information for obligating actions equal to or over $30,000 in federal funds for a subaward to a non-federal entity to the FFATA Subaward Reporting System no later than the end of the month following when the obligation was made.
With these guidelines in place, four of 11 Hazard Mitigation Grant subawards tested totaling $3,898,561 were submitted 54 to 117 days after the due date. There were also 12 of 15 Flood Mitigation Assistance subawards tested totaling $21,245,124 submitted 115 to 176 days after the due date.
The Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant is a program under FEMA that provides resources and funding for communities seeking disaster preventative measures. The Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant is another FEMA program that provides funding to reduce the risk of flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program.
This is the second year the homeland security office has not complied with reporting guidelines for the Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant. The auditor’s office addressed the consecutive years of noncompliance in their report after finding that management had not addressed the previous year.
“Our Corrective Action Plan from FY23 is being implemented; however, there are still issues beyond our control in the FSRS system, as far as permissions for more than one staff, as well as the report from homeland security office Grants working as it should,” Sandra Gaspard, assistant director of the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Division, noted in the response to the audit.
The auditor’s office offered some recommendations in the report, including the homeland security office bolstering its internal controls. This would allow award information to be entered on time adhering to federal requirements.
However, in the office’s response, Gaspard noted that the Federal Funding and Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System is changing soon.
“FSRS is being retired this Spring, and the process for the new system entry will require an entirely new implementation plan,” said Gaspard.
The homeland security office anticipates its corrective action plan to be completed in 90 days.
