In order to prevent improper payments within state programs, I plan to re- introduce legislation which mirrors the Federal Improper Payment law.  This bill would require agencies to review their programs and expenditures and assess whether they are highly, moderately or unlikely to be susceptible to an improper payment.   This assessment is sent to the Governor, the Budget Office, the IFO, the General Assembly and the State Inspector General.

As stated in federal law an improper payment in the bill is defined as an overpayment, an underpayment, a payment for an ineligible service or a payment to someone who was ineligible to receive it. Additionally, an improper payment both under the draft and in federal law includes any payment made by a state agency which did not receive a discount or credit which the payment should have received from a vendor or third party.

The bill requires Commonwealth Agencies to conduct an initial assessment of improper payments on any program which is not required under Federal Law no later than 120 days after the enactment. The bill further requires the Office of the Budget to maintain a publicly accessible internet website and update the website to inform the public of at least the following information:

• Each Commonwealth agency’s biennial improper payment assessments.
• Each Commonwealth agency’s total improper payments in dollar value and total improper payment error rate.
• Each Commonwealth agency’s high-risk program, the dollar value of improper payments for each high-risk program and the improper payment error rate percentage for each high-priority program.
• Each Commonwealth agency’s high-risk program corrective action plan and a summary status of completing the corrective action plan; and
• The recovery of improper payments for each program in total dollars and percentage.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation.