State & Local Reports

The audit concluded that the Small Business Relief Program disbursed approximately $282 million of CARES Act funds through the issuance of 5,754 grants; however, the distribution rate of grant funds fell far short of expectations. The State expected to distribute $150 million per month, yet only $18 million was distributed by the end of the program’s second month. Additionally, Results of testing found a high rate of unallowable grant awards. Auditors tested 155 grants and identified at least one error for 39 percent of the grants tested

What Was Performed? A special report that reviewed the State of Delaware’s use of federal grant funds provided by the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) for implementing best practices to clear the backlog of untested rape kits. Why This Engagement? Under Delaware Code 2909, the State Auditor may produce special reports that examine state agencies’ performance and offer recommendations for greater accuracy and efficiency, as well as data, information, and recommendations the auditor deems advisable and necessary. This special report evaluates a state legislative change as trending in other states that can help further improve the state’s process regarding SAKs to prevent backlogs from forming and ensure justice for survivors. What Was Found? • Sexual Assault Kits and the SAKI Program: A Sexual Assault Kit, also referred to as Sexual Assault Evidence Kit or SAK for short, is used for the collection of DNA in the event of a sexual assault case. The SAKI program is a federal grant program created to address the number of unsubmitted DNA test kits managed by law enforcement. The SAKI program provides federal grants to address issues affecting the processing of SAKs. • Federal Assistance: Delaware received $1.169 million in federal grants in 2015 and an additional $1 million in 2018 to address SAK backlog and underlying issues. • Falling behind: Six out of seven neighboring states have enacted laws and/or made changes to their policies to mandate timely submission for all rape kits to the crime lab. Delaware has yet to address legislation to prevent future backlogs from accumulating. • Observation: Delaware does not currently mandate testing for all SAKI kits. Delaware’s SAKI Coordinator reported that the state is currently working with SAKI Partners toward the goal of implementing a "Test All Kits" policy which reflects SAKI national best practices. • Recommendation: Enact legislation/policy mandating testing for all rape kits to eliminate the backlog from reoccurring and ensure justice is provided for victims. The new special report, “Delaware Erases Rape Kit Backlog” can be found on our website at auditor.delaware.gov. Please do not reply to this email. For any questions regarding the attached report, please contact State Auditor Kathleen K. McGuiness at Kathleen.Mcguiness@delaware.gov.

The Cuyahoga County Department of Internal Auditing (DIA) conducted an audit to assess the effectiveness of Cuyahoga Emergency Communications System (CECOMS) operations and compliance with related emergency response guidelines. The purpose of this audit was to ensure that 9-1-1 calls are answered timely and managed appropriately, and that emergency and response services are managed appropriately. The audit’s purpose was also to determine whether CECOMS was operating in a control conscious environment with adequate controls in place, and if controls do exist, to determine if they were adequate to effectively and efficiently achieve CECOMS goals. The audit found that CECOMS was generally in compliance with relevant Ohio Administrative Code compliance, and that CECOMS appears to be well managed. However, audit procedures also revealed that newly hired employees were not trained in the agency’s emergency medical dispatching protocols, that completion of periodic system tests were not ensured, that CECOMS does not ensure completion of requests for emergency services, and that CECOMS maintained inadequate policies relative to the number of quality assurance reviews necessary to ensure both 9-1-1 and incident response service calls are managed in accordance with proper policies and guidelines.

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.