- Mass. auditor says state needs to improve tracking of elder abuse claims (Connecticut Public Radio, 4/28/2023)
- A report by the Massachusetts auditor highlights the need for improved tracking of elder abuse claims in the state. The audit revealed that the state’s elder affairs office did not report seven incidents of serious abuse to district attorneys’ offices, following a previous audit in 2018. The Office of Elder Affairs responded by stating that it is developing a system to automatically check for new claims and will actively start checking for them.
- Audit finds MA Elder Affairs office failed to ensure abuse reported to DAs (Boston 25 News, 8/31/2023)
- An audit of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs revealed that the office failed to ensure that reports of elder abuse were properly reported to district attorneys (DAs). The office did not establish controls to ensure that all incidents of elder abuse were reported, and it also did not monitor the use of certain tools to assess the decisional capacity of elders. This lack of oversight and control put elders at risk and wasted taxpayer dollars.
- Massachusetts State Auditor DiZoglio’s Bureau of Special Investigations identifies over $4 million in public benefit fraud in Q1 & Q2 of FY24, here is the breakdown (Fall River Reporter, 4/8/2024)
- State Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s Bureau of Special Investigations uncovered over $4 million in public benefit fraud during the first and second quarters of FY24 in Massachusetts. The investigations involved 3,219 cases, with 216 cases of fraud totaling $4,405,856.22 identified. Auditor DiZoglio emphasized the importance of combating fraud to ensure that public assistance programs operate efficiently for those in need.
- Massachusetts Auditor: Uber & Lyft cheated state’s employee protection programs out of millions of dollars (Boston25News, 5/1/2024)
- Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s report accused Uber and Lyft of misclassifying employees as independent contractors, leading to the evasion of over $266 million in payments to state worker protection programs over the last decade, including an estimated $47 million in 2023 alone. Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien criticized these companies for exploiting workers and taxpayers, urging accountability and compliance with the law. State legislators have introduced bills to grant collective bargaining rights to app-based company workers, aiming to prevent misclassification and protect employee rights in the face of potential industry-backed referendums.
- State Auditor’s safety audit reveals major gaps at MBTA, prompting an urgent call for corrective action (Hoodline, 7/8/2024)
- The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) faces scrutiny after a safety audit by State Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s Office revealed significant gaps in safety training and contract management, particularly concerning an outsourced contract for customer safety and service with Block by Block (BBB). The audit, covering the period from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, found that visual station checks were completed late 94% of the time and that the MBTA failed to ensure BBB employees received necessary safety and operations training before being assigned to subway stations. Auditor DiZoglio emphasized the importance of proper training to mitigate safety risks for the public, stations, and employees. The audit also highlighted inadequate contract management, increasing the likelihood of undetected safety hazards and maintenance issues, and pointed out that the contract was established during a “loophole period” when the Taxpayer Protection Act didn’t apply.
- New report shows how state lagged behind on clearing rape kit backlog (Boston.com, 8/11/2024)
- The Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory failed to review thousands of previously untested rape kits within the 90-day deadline set by a new law in 2021, according to a report by State Auditor Diana DiZoglio. The audit revealed that 3,084 sexual assault evidence collection kits were not reviewed in time, with some delays extending to 161 days. The audit also found lapses in assigning kits to local district attorneys’ offices, inaccurate location labeling, and instances where personal information of sexual assault survivors was not properly redacted. Despite these findings, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) stated that the lab is working through the backlog and appreciated the audit’s recommendations.
- Mass. voters back audit of state Legislature (NBC Boston, 11/6/2024)
- Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly passed Ballot Question 1, allowing the state auditor to audit the Legislature, with approximately 71.5% support. This measure, championed by State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, aims to increase transparency in legislative operations, though some lawmakers argue it could violate the state’s separation of powers. Legislative leaders have indicated potential challenges to this law, suggesting it may face legal opposition or require further clarification to align with constitutional principles.
