Objective

To determine the extent of implementation of the four recommendations made in our initial audit report, Oversight of Passenger Safety (Report 2017-S-50).

About the Program

The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is responsible for coordinating services for more than 130,000 New Yorkers with developmental disabilities. It provides services directly and through a network of approximately 500 not-for-profit agencies. Regional Developmental Disabilities State Operations Offices administer and oversee State operations for OPWDD, including transporting clients from OPWDD-run residences to service providers or medical appointments. Within the New York City (NYC) region, four local Developmental Disabilities Services Offices (DDSOs) – Metro NY (the Bronx and Manhattan), Brooklyn, Bernard M. Fineson (Queens), and Staten Island – are responsible for overseeing 115 State-run residences. According to OPWDD and information obtained from OGS, as of October 2018, these four DDSOs had a fleet of about 484 vehicles. About 136 of the 484 vehicles were assigned to the transportation offices of the four NYC DDSOs. State vehicles may be assigned to specific employees only in extraordinary circumstances. Statewide policy requires vehicles to be used only for official State business, and OPWDD’s Fleet Management Policy requires that a vehicle-use log must be maintained for all State vehicles to record specific trip information, such as date and time of use, driver, occupants, and purpose of the trip.

We issued our initial audit report on October 1, 2018. The audit objective was to determine whether OPWDD ensures that its vehicles are being operated safely by employees with valid driver licenses. Our audit covered the period of April 1, 2015 through June 26, 2018.

Our initial audit found that OPWDD did not analyze traffic violations to identify whether employees needed training or counseling, or if they should be reassigned. The audit also found that DDSOs were not properly monitoring New York State Department of Motor Vehicles’ LENS reports to identify drivers whose licenses had been suspended. We identified seven employees who continued to drive OPWDD vehicles that were assigned to transport clients, despite having suspended driver licenses. In addition, repairs related to manufacturer recalls were not being performed timely, or at all.

Key Finding

OPWDD has made limited progress in addressing the problems we identified in the initial audit report. Of the initial audit report’s four recommendations, one was partially implemented and three were not implemented.

Key Recommendation

Officials are given 30 days after the issuance of the follow-up report to provide information on any actions that are planned to address the unresolved issues discussed in this report.