Governor Laura Kelly Announces Fraud Protection Updates to CARES Act Investments Portal
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today, in a continued commitment to transparency and accountability, announced updates to the online dashboard that tracks the investments funded through the Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) of the federal CARES Act. The portal has been updated to include all spending through October 31, 2020, and a newly expanded fraud protection online reporting portal.
“Kansans deserve to know how their tax dollars are being spent, and that they are protected against potential fraud,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “My administration continues to prioritize transparency and accountability, and these resources are another way for us to make this valuable information accessible to the public.”
If Kansans suspect fraud, waste, or abuse of CARES Act funds, they can report their allegations via an online portal, which will help direct their concerns to the appropriate place. Previously, Kansans could call or email the Office of Recovery with their claims. The new portal will streamline the process and offer Kansans the opportunity to submit claims anonymously if they fear retribution.
Kansans can report fraud, waste, or abuse by visiting: https://covid.ks.gov/report-fraud-waste-or-abuse/
Additionally, the online dashboard, which launched at the end of October, has been updated to include the spending reports submitted to the Office of Recovery in mid-November. These reports include all spending through October 31, 2020. Kansans can view how and where the $1.034 billion of Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars the State received have been invested. These investments were recommended by the SPARK Taskforce and approved by State Finance Council.
“From the beginning, we’ve been committed to ensuring Kansans have visibility in how their tax dollars are being invested and confidence that they will be used as intended,” Julie Lorenz, Executive Director of the Office of Recovery, said. “I’m pleased that we can continue to make enhancements in these areas.”
The dashboard can be viewed at https://covid.ks.gov/covid-data/