New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today the following audits have been issued.

Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS): Oversight of Chemical Dependence Residential Services (2020-S-49)

OASAS is responsible for certifying residential services and issuing operating certificates. A program’s eligibility for certification is contingent on the results of an OASAS inspection. Auditors found OASAS is not adequately monitoring programs, is not meeting the recertification review requirements, and many programs’ operating certificates are past their end date.

Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC): Management of Invasive Species (Follow-Up) (2021-F-16)

An audit issued in July 2020 found that while DEC had been active in establishing programs to address invasive species, improvements in its oversight, monitoring, and communication relating to boat inspections, permits, and early detection and assessment of invasive species could strengthen its ability to mitigate the spread of invasive species. In a follow-up, auditors found DEC made progress addressing the problems identified in the initial audit report. However, additional improvements are still needed.

Division of Military and Naval Affairs: Lead Contamination of State Armories (Follow-Up) (2021-F-22)

An audit issued in September 2020 found that the division had generally established adequate controls to ensure that the federally funded areas of all armories were tested for lead and that necessary steps were taken to address remediation when high levels were detected. While the division’s controls provided reasonable assurance that the public was not being unnecessarily exposed to lead at most armories, in certain instances, more could be done. In a follow-up, auditors found the division has made progress in addressing the issues identified in the initial audit report.

State Education Department (SED) (Preschool Special Education Audit Initiative): Life Skills Home Training Tutorial Program for Preschoolers Inc. – Compliance With the Reimbursable Cost Manual (2020-S-37)

Life Skills is a New York City-based not-for-profit organization authorized by SED to provide full-day Special Class, half-day Special Class, and Integrated Preschool Special Education services to children with disabilities. The New York City Department of Education refers students to Life Skills and pays for its services using rates established by SED. For the three fiscal years ended June 30, 2018, auditors identified $278,815 in reported costs that did not comply with the requirements for reimbursement.

State Education Department (Preschool Special Education Audit Initiative): These Our Treasures, Inc. (TOTS) – Compliance With the Reimbursable Cost Manual (2020-S-60)

TOTS is a New York City-based non-for-profit organization authorized by SED to provide preschool special education services to children with disabilities. The New York City Department of Education refers students to TOTS and pays for TOTS’ services using rates established by SED. For the three fiscal years ended June 30, 2017, auditors identified $182,856 in reported costs that did not comply with the requirements for reimbursement.

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