SLS 13RS-831 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 3
Regular Session, 2013
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 53
BY SENATOR PETERSON
ADMINISTRATION DIVISION. Directs the office of community development to follow
certain recommendations of the legislative auditor and the Department of Housing and
Urban Development, office of inspector general.
A RESOLUTION1
To direct the office of community development to follow certain recommendations of the2
legislative auditor and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, office3
of inspector general.4
WHEREAS, the legislative auditor recommends the office of community5
development finalize its proposed "action plan" amendments and formally submit them to6
the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for approval; and7
WHEREAS, the legislative auditor also recommends that the office of community8
development continue to identify recipients who have not provided adequate evidence of9
compliance with covenants to either the office of community development or disaster10
recovery unit; and 11
WHEREAS, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program agreement between the Federal12
Emergency Management Agency and the state requires the office of community13
development pursue recovery of assistance provided to applicants through error,14
misappropriation, fraud, or if the state finds that the recipient misappropriated the funds15
inappropriately; and16
WHEREAS, the legislative auditor recommends that the office of community17
development conduct an expeditious review of all awards identified for potential recovery18 SR NO. 53
SLS 13RS-831 ORIGINAL
Page 2 of 3
and those determined to be ineligible; and1
WHEREAS, it is further recommended that the office of community development2
obtain and review supporting construction documentation to ensure all transactions charged3
by contractors are justified and performed prior to approving applicant reimbursement; and4
WHEREAS, additionally, the legislative auditor recommends that the office of5
community development review payments already made to applicants to obtain additional6
supporting documentation where necessary to verify funds were used in compliance with the7
grant; and8
WHEREAS, if it is found that funds were inappropriately used, the office of9
community development should pursue recoupment of funds from the recipient; and10
WHEREAS, HUD's office of inspector general recommends that the office of11
community development enforce program remedies and recovery procedures for12
noncompliance as stated in the grant agreement, including but not limited to the recovery of13
$437.3 million in elevation grant funds that were allocated to fifteen thousand twenty-seven14
homeowners who did not elevate their homes within three years in accordance with the terms15
of the grant funds; and 16
WHEREAS, HUD's office of inspector general also recommends that the office of17
community development verify that the homeowners, who received grant funds but did not18
respond to the monitoring survey, in fact used the funds to elevate their homes; and19
WHEREAS, if it is found that funds were not used for home elevation, the office of20
community development should pursue recoupment of funds from the recipient; and21
WHEREAS, HUD's office of inspector general further recommends that the office22
of community development reimburse the uncollectible elevation grant funds from23
nonfederal funds.24
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana25
does hereby direct the office of community development to comply with the26
recommendations of the legislative auditor and HUD's office of inspector general.27
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the28
appropriate person in the division of administration's office of community development, the29
legislative auditor's office, and HUD's office of inspector general.30 SR NO. 53
SLS 13RS-831 ORIGINAL
Page 3 of 3
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by J. Ashley Mitchell.
DIGEST
Peterson SR No. 53
Directs the office of community development to follow certain recommendations of the
legislative auditor and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, office of
inspector general.