Report 2012-111 Data Reliability Assessments

Public Health, Department of
Description of Data Agency Purpose of Data
California Department of Public Health's (Public Health) Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement (STAKE) Demand/Legal Database

To track information regarding STAKE Act investigations conducted by Public Health's Food and Drug Branch.

Magnitude of Data

Over 12,000 records containing violation case numbers, and type and date of notice sent to violator.

Over 11,000 records listing payments received by case number (includes deductions for refunds or returned checks). As of January 16, 2013, payments received totaled $3,867,277.01.
Purpose of Testing Data Reliability Determination

Determine the amount of STAKE Act penalties assessed between July 2009 and June 2012.

Of those penalties, calculate the amount collected as of January 16, 2013.

Sufficiently Reliable—We performed data-set verification procedures and electronic testing of key data elements and did not identify any issues.

To test the accuracy of Public Health's STAKE Demand/Legal Database data, we randomly selected a sample of 29 penalty assessment cases and verified that key data elements matched source documentation. This testing did not note any errors.

We verified completeness by tracing a haphazard selection of penalty assessment cases to the data and found no errors.

Corrective Action Recommended Status of Corrective Action
We did not recommend corrective action. N/A
Description of Data Agency Purpose of Data
Department of Public Health's data as maintained in the California Department of Finance's CALSTARS

An automated organization and program cost-accounting system to accurately and systematically account for all revenue, expenditures, receipts, disbursements, and property of the State.

Magnitude of Data

The CALSTARS H08 (Receipts Transaction Register) monthly and fiscal year-end reports contained nearly 500,000 records.

Purpose of Testing Data Reliability Determination

Determine the amount of Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement Act (STAKE Act) expenditures for the period July 2009 through June 2012.

Determine the amount of funds paid to the San Diego State University Research Foundation and the American Lung Association of California for activities related to the STAKE Act program during the period July 2009 through June 2012.

Sufficiently Reliable—We performed data-set verification procedures and electronic testing of key data elements and did not identify any issues.

To test the accuracy of the CALSTARS data, we randomly selected a sample of 31 transactions and verified that key data elements matched source documentation. This testing did not note any errors.

To test the completeness of the CALSTARS data for the Sale of Tobacco to Minors Control Account, we compared fund totals from the Controller's Budgetary/Legal Basis system to CALSTARS. We did not note any material exceptions.

To test the completeness of the CALSTARS data for the General Fund revenues and expenditures for activities related to the STAKE Act, we compared the total payments reported by the contracting organizations to the CALSTARS data. We did not note any material exceptions.

Corrective Action Recommended Status of Corrective Action
We did not recommend corrective action. N/A