(a) Purpose and Overview
  (1) This section provides the procedures that will be followed for monitoring for compliance with the programs in this chapter.
  (2) Any entity administering any or all of the programs detailed in this chapter is a Subrecipient. A Subrecipient may also administer other programs, including programs administered by other state or federal agencies and privately funded programs. If the Subrecipient has Contracts for other programs through the Department, including, but not limited to, the HOME Partnerships Program, the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, or the Texas Housing Trust Fund, the Department may, but is not required to and does not commit to, coordinate monitoring of those programs with monitoring of those programs under this Chapter.
  (3) Any entity administering any or all of the programs provided for in subsection (a)(2) of this section as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), contract, or other legal agreement with a Subrecipient is a Subgrantee.
(b) Frequency of Reviews, Notification and Information Collection.
  (1) In general, the Subrecipient or Subgrantee will be scheduled for monitoring based on state or federal monitoring requirements and/or a risk assessment. Factors to be included in the risk assessment include, but are not limited to: the number of Contracts administered by the Subrecipient or Subgrantee, the amount of funds awarded and expended, the length of time since the last monitoring, findings identified during previous monitoring, issues identified through the submission or lack of submission of a Single Audit, complaints received by the Department, and reports of fraud, waste, and/or abuse. The risk assessment will also be used to determine which Subrecipients or Subgrantees will have an onsite review and which may have a desk review.
  (2) The Department will provide the Subrecipient or Subgrantee with written notice of any upcoming onsite or desk monitoring review, and such notice will be given to the Subrecipient and Subgrantee by email to the Subrecipient's and Subgrantee's Contract contact at the email address most recently provided to the Department by the Subrecipient or Subgrantee. In general, a 30 calendar day notice will be provided. However, if a credible complaint of fraud or other egregious noncompliance is received the Department reserves the right to conduct unannounced monitoring visits. It is the responsibility of the Subrecipients to provide to the Department the current contact information for the organization and the Board in accordance with §7.7 of this subchapter (relating to Subrecipient Contact Information) and §1.22 of this title (relating to Providing Contact Information to the Department).
  (3) Upon request, Subrecipient and Subgrantee (if applicable) must make available to the Department all books and records that the Department determines are reasonably relevant to the scope of the Department's review. Typically, these records may include, but are not limited to:
    (A) Minutes of the governing board and any committees thereof, together with all supporting materials;
    (B) Copies of all internal operating procedures or other documents governing the Subrecipient's operations;
    (C) The Subrecipient's Board approved operating budget and reports on execution of that budget;
    (D) The Subrecipient's strategic plan or comparable document if applicable and any reports on the achievement of that plan;
    (E) Correspondence to or from any independent auditor;
    (F) Contracts with any third parties for goods or services and files documenting compliance with any applicable procurement and property disposition requirements;
    (G) All general ledgers and other records of financial operations (including copies of checks and other supporting documents);
    (H) Applicable Program Participant files with all required documentation;
    (I) Applicable human resources records;
    (J) Monitoring reports from other funding entities;
    (K) Program Participant files regarding complaints, appeals, and termination of services; and
    (L) Documentation to substantiate compliance with any other applicable state or federal requirements including, but not limited to, the Davis-Bacon Act, HUD requirements for environmental clearance, Lead Based Paint, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act, HUD LEP requirements, and requirements imposed by Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968.
(c) Post Monitoring Procedures.
  (1) In general, within 30 calendar days of the last day of the monitoring visit, a written monitoring report will be prepared for the Subrecipient describing the monitoring assessment and any corrective actions, if applicable. The monitoring report will be emailed to the Subrecipient's Board Chair and Executive Director. All Department monitoring reports and Subrecipient responses to monitoring reports must be provided to the governing body of the Subrecipient within the next two regularly scheduled meetings. Issues of concern over which there is uncertainty or ambiguity may be discussed by the Department with the staff of cognizant agencies overseeing federal funding. Certain types of suspected or observed improper conduct may trigger requirements to make reports to other oversight authorities, state and federal, including, but not limited to, the State Auditor's Office and applicable Inspectors General.
  (2) Subrecipient Response. If there are any Findings of noncompliance requiring corrective action, the Subrecipient will be provided 30 calendar days from the date of the email to respond, which may be extended for good cause. In order to receive an extension, the Subrecipient must submit a written request to the Director of Compliance within the corrective action period, stating the basis for good cause that justifies the extension. The Department will approve or deny the extension request within five calendar days.
  (3) Monitoring Close Out. Within 45 calendar days after the end of the corrective action period, a close out letter will be issued to the Subrecipient. If the Subrecipient's response satisfies issues raised in the monitoring letter, the issue of noncompliance will be noted as resolved. If the Subrecipient's response does not correct all Findings, the follow-up letter will identify the documentation that must be submitted to correct the issue.
  (4) Options for Review. If, following the submission of corrective action documentation, Compliance staff continues to find the Subrecipient or Subgrantee in noncompliance, and the Subrecipient disagrees, the Subrecipient may request or initiate review of the matter using the following options, where applicable:
    (A) If the issue is related to a program requirement or prohibition of a federal program, the Subrecipient may contact the applicable federal program officer for guidance or request that the Department contact applicable federal program officer for guidance without identifying the Subrecipient.
    (B) If the issue is related to application of a provision of the Contract or a requirement of the Texas Administrative Code, the Subrecipient may request to submit an appeal to the Executive Director consistent with §1.7 of this title (relating to Appeals Process).
    (C) The Subrecipient may request Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Subrecipient may send a proposal to the Department's Dispute Resolution Coordinator to initiate ADR pursuant to Chapter 1, Subchapter A of this title, relating to General Policies and Procedures.
  (5) If the Subrecipient does not respond to a monitoring letter or fails to provide acceptable evidence of compliance, the matter will be handled through the procedures described in Chapter 2 of this title, relating to Enforcement.

Source Note: The provisions of this §7.11 adopted to be effective February 27, 2024, 49 TexReg 1048