Report 2013-130 Recommendation 3 Responses

Report 2013-130: California Public Utilities Commission: It Fails to Adequately Ensure Consumers' Transportation Safety and Does Not Appropriately Collect and Spend Fees From Passenger Carriers (Release Date: June 2014)

Recommendation #3 To: Public Utilities Commission

To ensure that the branch conducts thorough investigations of passenger carriers, the commission should establish standards specifying the types of evidence that it considers sufficient to determine whether a passenger carrier is operating illegally.

6-Month Agency Response

(Recommendations 3-5) TEB, in consultation with the Legal Division, developed evidence standards for inclusion in the revised investigation guidelines (Recommendation 3). The guidelines incorporate a reference chart of state laws and requirements applicable to passenger carriers. Clear evidence standards will promote greater transparency and consistent application among staff. Further, implementation of such standards afford supervisors an ongoing opportunity to communicate and reinforce management expectations to staff.

Status: Package of comprehensive guidelines under management review.

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

The commission provided its transportation enforcement branch guidelines on December 31, 2014. These guidelines specify the types of evidence that it considers sufficient to determine whether a passenger carrier is operating illegally.

60-Day Agency Response

(Recommendations 1-3) TEB, in consultation with the Legal Division, is developing evidence standards for inclusion in the revised investigation procedures (Recommendation 1). The standards will include a reference chart of state laws and requirements applicable to passenger carriers. Clear evidence standards will promote greater transparency and consistent application among staff. Further, implementation of such standards afford supervisors an ongoing opportunity to communicate and reinforce management expectations to staff.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2013-130

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.