State & Local Reports

This letter-report is a response to the Joint Committee on Government Organization and Operations' request that PERD review whether the Board of Physical Therapy is allowing licensed physical therapists to perform dry needling and auricular acudetox therapy. There is also concern that the Board may not require the individuals to post a certificate or license which indicates training in either modality. The Board is of the opinion that dry needling is within the scope of practice of a West Virginia licensed physical therapist; however, it does not offer dry needling training or certification, nor does it know how many are certified within the state. The Board reports that physical therapists do not perform acupuncture but they do perform manual techniques in auricular therapy.

The two objectives of this audit are to assess the State Police’s purchasing policies and procedures pursuant to W. Va. Code for 2018 and 2019. Since receiving its requested exemption from the Purchasing Division in July 2017, PERD finds that the State Police has not developed formal written purchasing policies and procedures. PERD sampled State Police transactions from calendar year 2018 to review for compliance with its limited purchasing procedural guidelines. PERD found that there were few sampled transactions that were in complete compliance with the agency’s limited guidelines. The lack of compliance is attributed to a lack of clear written policies and procedures, and enforcement of those procedures. The State Police’s current purchasing practices increase the risk of waste, fraud, and abuse.

This letter-report is a response to the Joint Committee on Government Organization and Operations' request that PERD review whether the Board of Physical Therapy is adhering to its procedural rule which requires the Board to receive and investigate complaints against registered athletic trainers, as well as, to administer discipline when warranted. PERD reviewed the Board's complaint logs calendar years 2011-2019, reviewed a sample of complaint files, and questioned the Board regarding the complaint process. Since 2011, there were 67 complaints filed against either physical therapists or physical therapist assistants, but none filed against athletic trainers.

This special report provides summary information and 3 interactive dashboards with Arizona school districts’ and charter schools’ reported spending through June 30, 2021, and planned spending of allocated/awarded COVID-19 federal relief monies. This special report also provides Arizona Department of Education (ADE)-reported spending through June 30, 2021, and planned future spending of the discretionary COVID-19 federal relief monies that it received, as required by the law. This information is included below the dashboards.