Report I2019-0559 Recommendation 6 Responses
Report I2019-0559: California Prison Industry Authority: It Gave Nearly $1.3 Million in Unlawful Gifts to Other State Agencies and Repeatedly Violated Merit‑Based Employment Principles (Release Date: July 2021)
Case Number I2019-0559
Recommendation #6 To: Prison Industry Authority
CalPIA should take disciplinary action against executives who failed to uphold their duty to protect the merit-based system for hiring civil servants. If any of the employees responsible for these appointments are no longer employed by CalPIA, consider placing a notice of this investigation in their personnel files.
Agency Response From March 2022
In March 2022, CalPIA reported that its general manager met with both of the executives who still work with CalPIA to verbally counsel them. The general manager noted that he informed the executives that although some of their actions were done under duress, their failure to follow proper hiring practices in the future would result in disciplinary action.
Given CalPIA's decision to minimally discipline the two executives still working at CalPIA with only verbal counseling, we requested to see a copy of the investigation that CalPIA stated it would request from CDCR in June 2021. CalPIA did not provide an investigative report but instead stated that after various consultations with CDCR, it concluded that verbal counseling was the appropriate discipline because it had already taken action to mitigate the issues, and the executives had neither any previous disciplinary action at CalPIA nor any repeat offenses. As verbal counseling is disciplinary in nature, we agree that CalPIA has fully implemented the recommendation.
California State Auditor's Assessment of Status: Fully Implemented
Agency Response From January 2022
In January 2022, CalPIA reported that it continues to work with CDCR to determine an appropriate level of discipline against the executives who still work for CalPIA.
California State Auditor's Assessment of Status: Partially Implemented
Agency Response From September 2021
In August 2021, CalPIA placed a notice of this investigation in the personnel files of all its former employees who were responsible for these appointments. Moreover, in September 2021, it reported that it will meet with CDCR to consult on disciplinary action for current executives.
California State Auditor's Assessment of Status: Partially Implemented
Agency Response From June 2021
CalPIA reported that it would request that CDCR conduct an investigation into these executives' activities and advise CalPIA on appropriate disciplinary action. CalPIA stated that it would place a notice of this investigation in the personnel files of those executives whom CalPIA no longer employs.