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Regulation of Barbering and Cosmetology professions, as well as salons, is needed to protect the public.

The objectives of this review are to determine if the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists should be continued, consolidated or terminated, and if conditions warrant a change in the degree of regulations. In addition, this review is intended to assess the Board’s compliance with the general provisions of Chapter 30, Article 1 of the West Virginia Code, the Board’s enabling statute, and other applicable rules and laws such as the Open Governmental Proceedings and purchasing requirements.

The State Police lacks written policies establishing appriopriate internal control over ammunition acquisition, handling and security.

The objective of this review is to determine if the State Police ammunition storage facilities, policies, and procedures related to the management, storage, and accounting for ammunition resources have improved since PERD last reviewed them in 1999. PERD found that the State Police maintains records on ammunition inventory, but practices have not been formalized through official policies and procedures. The State Police Academy now operates a new, rebuilt facility on the site of the old range, which exceeds the recommendations of the 1999 report.

REAP has not been effective in pollution prevention or reducing per capita municipal solid waste disposed in landfills. Eliminating illegal dumps has become costlier under DEP purchasing procedures.

PERD’s objectives were to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the A. James Manchin Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan (REAP). Although REAP has produced significant output, the program is inefficient and the primary desired outcomes are not being achieved. REAP has not been effective in pollution prevention or reducing per capita municipal solid waste disposed in landfills.

Jackie Withrow Hospital has decreased its annual patient costs since 2013, however, its expenditures and maintenance costs remain high.

PERD’s objectives were to determine to what extent has the costs per patient at Jackie Withrow Hospital increased or decreased compared to other comparable state health facilities since 2013, and whether the facility complied with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 2018 Jackie Withrow Hospital had the third highest cost-per-patient and the highest overall expenditures for FY 2018 of the four state-owned hospitals. Contributing factors to the higher costs are that the size of the building far exceeds its current use and the age of the building needs many costly repairs and upgrades.

The Legislature should consider terminating the West Virginia Public Port Authority because it receives no funding, has no employees or future projects.

The objective of this review was to determine the level of benefit the Port Authority provides to the state of West Virginia, and whether there is a continued need for the agency’s existence. The Legislative Auditor finds that the Port Authority receives no funding, has no employees or future projects, and holds no benefit to the state of West Virginia. Additionally, the agency is currently inactive, does not implement key duties and responsibilities designated by the W. Va. State Code, and has incurred more expenditures than revenue in recent years.

The Board complies with most of the general provisions of Chapter 30 of the W.Va. Code: However, improvement is needed.

The objectives of this review was to determine if the Board of Examiners in Counseling complied with the general provisions of Chapter 30, Article 1 of the West Virginia Code, the Board’s enabling statute, other applicable rules and laws, and if the Board’s website is user-friendly and promotes transparency. The Board is financially self-sufficient and complies with most provisions of state regulations. PERD also found that the Board put sensitive materials on an unsecured page of its website. This put the state at risk of liability.

The Bureau allocates positions for Child Protective Services workers based mainly on caseload data; However, incorporating child population and poverty rates in the allocaton process should be considered.

The objectives of this audit were to identify and review the Bureau for Children and Families' (BCF) child protective service (CPS) worker allocation process and determine if other methods should be used. Also, PERD was asked to determine if population is considered in staffing allocation. PERD found that the BCF allocates CPS workers based on the percentage of accepted CPS cases to a region and district. While the agency typically allocates workers using this method, it does allow for exceptions, which changes the allocation in two or more districts.

It is the Legislative Auditor’s opinion that those individuals who have completed the four-year social work training program designed by DHHR should be eligible to take the social work national exam within their college education level.

The objective was to conduct a performance audit of the provisional license to practice as a social worker and the application process by which a provisional licensee may become a licensed social worker. Senate Bill 312, passed on March 5, 2020, eliminated the non-related degree social worker, and eliminated the ability of those individuals with a related and non-related degree to complete the four-year training program designed by Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) to become a licensed social worker by the extended June 30, 2020 date.

The Legislature should consider eliminating the dual-title provision since it results in two people carrying out the duties of the secretary and commissioner, and at salaries that are significantly above statutory salaries.

The objective of this review was to examine the cost, possible duplication of services, and rationale for a person having the dual title and responsibilities of DOT secretary and DOH commissioner. The Legislative Auditor contends that the statutory responsibilities of the commissioner and the cabinet secretary cannot be accomplished by one person because a single individual realistically cannot be effective serving in this dual role.

Licensure of Hearing Aid Dealers is needed, but could be administered by the Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

The objective of this review was to determine if licensure of hearing aid dealers is necessary to protect the public and if so, whether an independent board is necessary to administer licensure. This review also assessed the Board’s compliance with Chapter 30 requirements and other applicable sections of West Virginia Code. The Legislative Auditor finds that the Board is inaccessible and does not protect the public. Licensure continues to be necessary; however, the Board itself is unnecessary and licensure could be administered by the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

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