H.R. 8107: Government Audit and Accountability of Federally Funded State-Administered Programs Act

This bill, titled the Government Audit and Accountability of Federally Funded State-Administered Programs Act, aims to enhance the oversight of federal funds that are administered by state and local governments. Specifically, it requires the Comptroller General of the United States to create and regularly update a "High Risk List" that identifies areas and practices within state and local programs that pose the greatest risks to the integrity of these federal funds.

Key Provisions

The bill lays out several important tasks for the Comptroller General:

• High Risk List Creation: Within two years of the bill's enactment and periodically thereafter, the Comptroller General must submit a list to Congress that identifies high-risk program areas and administrative practices.
• Assessment of Issues: The High Risk List will assess systematic vulnerabilities associated with the administration of federal funds, focusing on identifying program areas where misuse or inefficiencies are most likely to occur.
• Best Practices Review: The list will include evaluations of best practices that have successfully reduced waste, fraud, and abuse in federally funded programs at the state and local levels.
• Available Resources: It will identify federal tools and assistance available to help address the identified vulnerabilities.
• Recommendations: Finally, the Comptroller General is tasked with providing recommendations to Congress for ways to mitigate the risks associated with the high-risk areas identified.

Sources of Information

To draft the High Risk List, the Comptroller General will utilize existing publicly available oversight materials, which may include:

• Findings from federal and state auditors, inspectors general, and attorneys general regarding the management of federal funds.
• Single audit reports as required under specific federal regulations.
• Other relevant public data on federal oversight and program integrity.

While compiling this information, the Comptroller General will follow professional auditing standards. They may also perform independent analyses when necessary but will not be able to demand additional information from states or local governments.

Methodology

The methodology for creating and presenting the High Risk List will be determined by the Comptroller General, in alignment with established auditing standards and the technical requirements outlined in the bill.

Implementation Timeline

The bill indicates that the first High Risk List is to be delivered within two years following the enactment, marking a specific timeline for initial action and subsequent updates.

Relevant Companies

None found.