Skip Repetitive Navigation Links
California State Auditor Logo COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • LEADERSHIP

Investigation of Improper Activities by State Agencies and Employees
Waste of State Funds, Misuse of Bereavement Leave, Misuse of State Resources,
Dishonesty, and Supervisory Neglect of Duty

Report Number: I2020-1

Figure 1
Status of 1,645 Cases, January 2019 Through December 2019

The pie chart shows, 1,172 (or 71%) of the 1,645 cases lacked sufficient information for investigation or are pending preliminary review. For another 299 (or 18%) cases, we conducted work or will conduct additional work—such as analyzing available evidence and contacting witnesses—to assess the allegations. We notified the respective agencies for an additional 89 (or 6%) cases so they could investigate the matters further, and we independently initiated investigations for another 34 (or 2%) cases. Further, we requested that state agencies gather information for 51 (or 3%) cases to assist us in assessing the validity of the allegations. Some of these cases may still be ongoing.

Go back to Figure 1

Figure 2
Bereavement Leave Benefits Differ for Represented Employees and Unrepresented Employees

Bereavement leave differ for represented employees and unrepresented employees. Represented employees may use the following per fiscal year: (1) Up to three eight-hour days (or 24 hours) of paid leave per occurrence for immediate family members,such as parents, children, and spouses, regardless of the number of occurrences. (2) Up to 24 hours of paid leave in total for extended family members, such as aunts, uncles, nieces, or nephews, regardless of the number of occurrences. (3) Bereavement leave for cousins and friends is not permitted. (4) If the supervisor requests it, an employee must provide substantiation for the requested bereavement leave. Unrepresented employees may use the following per each occurrence (without regard to the number of occurrences) for the following: (1) Up to three days of paid leave for any family member related by blood, adoption, or marriage. (2) Up to three days of paid leave for any person residing in the immediate household of the employee at the time of death. (3) Bereavement leave for friends is not permitted. (4) An employee must provide substantiation for all requests for bereavement leave.

Go back to Figure 2

Figure 3
The Value of the Misused Parking Permits Was Nearly $13,500

Figure 3 displays two stacks of money that total nearly $13,500 to illustrate the value of the misuse of the parking permits by the supervisor and her staff from 2013 through 2019. The estimated total value of the supervisor's misuse of the parking permits is $4,620. The estimated total value of the use of the parking permits by the supervisor's staff is $8,874.

Go back to Figure 3

Figure 4
The Supervisor Misused State Parking Permits So She and Her Staff Could Park for Free

Figure 4 is a flowchart that illustrates the proper use of the parking permits and the supervisor's misuse of the permits. The flowchart begins with an image of the commission followed by an arrow that points to an image of parking permits. An arrow after the parking permits points to an image of an office worker that is titled "Supervisor." Underneath the supervisor image are two arrows. One arrow points to a text box titled "Proper Use." The other arrow points to a text box titled "Misuse." The "Proper Use" text box explains that the parking permits are either for official guests of the commission or for commission employees who have purchased and been assigned permits and remit payment to the commission. The "Misuse" box indicates that the parking permits are for the supervisor and her staff to use at the commission expense.

Go back to Figure 4