Section 700.110  Monitoring and Records Retention

a)                  The Department or a third party administrator will conduct monitoring of the Local CURE Program to ensure funds were spent in accordance with the Local CURE Program statute and this Part.

b)                  Local governments shall provide, upon the Department's request, documents and information relevant to any applications, requests, and funds received pursuant to the Local CURE Program. The Department and/or its agents may make site visits as warranted.

c)                  The Department reserves the right to seek a refund from the local government if it finds the local government made a false or fraudulent claim for funds or the funds were spent on ineligible expenses. The Department also may seek a refund from a local government if the federal government, the Department, or other State agency finds that the local government did not properly spend the funds, was reimbursed for ineligible costs under Sections 700.50 and 700.60, or received reimbursement under the Local CURE Program of costs that were reimbursed through another federal or State program.

d)                  Units of local government that request or receive funds under the Local CURE program shall maintain, for five years from the date of submission of the final request for reimbursement, adequate books, all financial records and supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to the Local CURE Program. If any litigation, claim or audit is started before the expiration of the retention period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims or audit exceptions involving the records have been resolved and final action taken. Business participants in the Economic Support Payments Grants Program shall maintain all records related to the Local CURE Program until at least March 31, 2026, unless a longer retention period is set forth in any financial assistance agreement or certification, or until after the conclusion of all litigation, claims or audit exceptions involving the records have been resolved and final action taken, whichever is latest.