Report 2011-103 Recommendation 10 Responses

Report 2011-103: California's Mutual Aid System: The California Emergency Management Agency Should Administer the Reimbursement Process More Effectively (Release Date: January 2012)

Recommendation #10 To: Forestry and Fire Protection, Department of

If FEMA determines that the calculations and claims identified in the Office of Inspector General's audit report were erroneous, CAL FIRE should collaborate with Cal EMA to establish a system that calculates the maximum number of reimbursable personnel hours in accordance with both FEMA's policy and the CFAA.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2013

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has an ongoing relationship with the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) resulting in continued collaboration. Since the issuance of the California State Auditor Report, CAL FIRE in coordination with Cal EMA and based on communication with the Federal Emergency Management Agency regarding the maximum number of reimbursable personnel hours, has modified its system to determine calculations by adjusting its billing practices on Federal Declaration and Federal Management Assistant Grants to reflect the requirements of Recovery Policy 9525.7.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

1-Year Agency Response

There was no change in the status of this recommendation since the 6-month response.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

6-Month Agency Response

CAL FIRE stated that it continues to coordinate with Cal EMA and its federal mutual aid partners to ensure as much consistency as possible between the CFAA and the FEMA Disaster Assistance program. However, CAL FIRE did not specifically address its collaboration efforts with Cal EMA to establish a system that calculates the maximum number of reimbursable personnel hours in accordance with both FEMA's policy and the CFAA. (See 2013-406, p. 74)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2011-103

Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.