type: other

jurisdiction: US

text: b" Office of Inspector General\n Corporation for National and\n Community Service\n\n\n\n\n AGREED-UPON PROCEDURES REVIEW OF\nCORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE\n EDUCATION AWARD PROGRAM GRANTS TO\n THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY\n\n OIG REPORT NUMBER 09-10\n\n\n\n\n Prepared by:\n\n Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.\n 3 Bethesda Metro Center\n Suite 600\n Bethesda, MD 20814\n\n\n\n This report was issued to Corporation management on May 13, 2009. Under the\n laws and regulations governing audit follow-up, the Corporation is to make final\n management decisions on the report\xe2\x80\x99s findings and recommendations no later\n than November 13, 2009, and complete its corrective actions by May 13, 2010.\n Consequently, the reported findings do not necessarily represent the final\n resolution of the issues presented.\n\x0c OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL\n May 13, 2009\n\n\nTO: Lois Nembhard\n Acting Director, AmeriCorps*State and National\n\n Margaret Rosenberry\n Director, Office of Grants Management\n\nFROM: Stuart Axenfeld /s/\n Assistant Inspector General for Audit\n\nSUBJECT: OIG Report 09-10, Agreed-Upon Procedures Review of Corporation for\n National and Community Service Education Award Program Grants to The\n College of New Jersey\n\nAttached is the final report for the above-noted agreed-upon procedures review. We\ncontracted with the independent certified public accounting firm of Mayer Hoffman McCann\nP.C. (MHM) to perform the procedures. The contract required MHM to conduct its review in\naccordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.\n\nMHM is responsible for the attached report, dated May 12, 2009, and the conclusions\nexpressed therein. We do not express opinions on the Schedule of Questioned Education\nAwards, conclusions on the effectiveness of internal controls, or the grantee\xe2\x80\x99s compliance\nwith laws, regulations, and grant provisions.\n\nUnder the Corporation\xe2\x80\x99s audit resolution policy, a final management decision on the findings\nin this report is due by November 13, 2009. Notice of final action is due by May 13, 2010.\n\nIf you have questions pertaining to this report, please call me at (202) 606-9360, or Ron\nHuritz, Audit Manager, at (202) 606-9355.\n\nAttachment\n\ncc: Dr. Carol Bresnahan, Provost, The College of New Jersey\n Christen Foell, Program Director, Bonner Center, TCNJ\n William Anderson, Acting Chief Financial Officer, CNCS\n Rocco Gaudio, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Grants & Field Financial\n Management, CNCS\n Sherry Blue, Audit Resolution Coordinator, CNCS\n Randy Vellocido, Partner/Shareholder, Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.\n\n\n\n\n 1201 New York Avenue, NW Suite 830, Washington, DC 20525\n 202-606-9390 Hotline: 800-452-8210 www.cncsoig.gov\n\n Senior Corps AmeriCorps Learn and Serve America\n\x0c AGREED-UPON PROCEDURES REVIEW OF\n CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE\n EDUCATION AWARD PROGRAM GRANTS TO\n THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY\n\n\n Table of Contents\n\n\n\nExecutive Summary 1\n\nIndependent Accountants' Report on Applying Agreed-Upon Procedures 3\n\n Results 4\n\n Exhibit A: Schedule of Questioned Education Awards 5\n\n Results - Compliance and Internal Control 6\n\nAppendix A - The College of New Jersey's Response to Draft Report\n\nAppendix B - Corporation for National and Community Service's Response to\n Draft Report\n\x0c EXECUTIVE SUMMARY\n\nThe Office of Inspector General (OIG), Corporation for National and Community Service\n(Corporation), contracted with Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. (MHM) to perform agreed-upon\nprocedures (AUP) for Education Award Program (EAP) grants provided to The College of New\nJersey (TCNJ).\n\nResults\n\nAs a result of applying our procedures, we questioned education awards of $3,362. A\nquestioned education award is an alleged violation of provision of law, regulation, contract,\ngrant, cooperative agreement, or other agreement or document governing the eligibility of\neducation awards; or a finding that, at the time of testing, such award was not supported by\nadequate documentation. The results of our procedures are summarized in Exhibit A, Schedule\nof Questioned Education Awards.\n\n Questioned\n Award Education\n Number Program Awards\n 04EDHNJ001 Education Award $ 3,362\n\n Totals $ 3.362\n\nAmeriCorps members who successfully complete terms of service are eligible for education\nawards and accrued interest awards funded by the National Service Trust. These awards are\nnot funded by Corporation grants and the associated costs are, therefore, not claimed by TCNJ.\nHowever, we determined the effect of our findings on the allowability of these awards.\n\nDetails related to these questioned education awards appear in the Independent Accountants'\nReport on Applying Agreed-Upon Procedures that follows. The detailed results of our\nprocedures revealed instances of non-compliance with grant provisions or regulations, as more\nfully described in the Compliance and Internal Control section of this report. Issues identified\ninclude:\n\n 1& Lack of adequate procedures and controls to ensure members' criminal background\n checks are performed;\n\n GIl Lack of adequate procedures and controls to ensure service hours are recorded only\n after members' contracts are signed;\n\n GIl Service hours were recorded prior to members' enrollment date;\n\n GIl Late submission of member enrollment, exit, and change-of-status forms;\n\n GIl Lack of adequate procedures and controls to ensure that members attend orientation\n prior to starting service; and\n\n GIl Lack of procedures and controls to ensure end-of-term evaluations are performed.\n\x0cAgreed-Upon-Procedures Scope\n\nWe performed our AUP at the grantee's location during the period November 3 through\nDecember 19, 2008. The procedures covered TCNJ's compliance with terms and provisions for\nthe following grants:\n\n Program Award Number Award Period Testing Period\n\n Education Award 04EDHNJ001 11/10/04 to 12/08/09 09/14/05 to 10/13/08\n Education Award 07EDHNJ001 09/01/07 to 08/31/10 09/01/07 to 10/13/08\n\nThe procedures are based on the OIG's AUP program dated September 2008, and are included\nin the Independent Accountants' Report on Applying Agreed-Upon Procedures section of this\nreport.\n\nBackground\n\nThe Corporation, under the authority of the National Community Service Trust Act of 1993, as\namended, awards grants and cooperative agreements to non profit organizations, such as\nTCNJ and other entities, to assist in the creation of full-time and part-time national and\ncommunity service programs.\n\nTCNJ's Education Award Program is administered by the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner\nFoundation (Foundation). The non profit Foundation, located in Princeton, New Jersey, has a\nstaff of 10 people, five of whom are employed by TCNJ. The remaining five are employed by\nthe Foundation. The purpose of the Foundation is to help those who, like its founders, grew up\nin underprivileged areas. In 1989, the Foundation began working with colleges and universities\nto provide scholarships to students who could not afford to attend college, and to encourage\nstudents at institutions of higher learning to perform service in their communities.\n\nThe Foundation receives two types of Corporation grants: the education award program grant,\nand a subgrant from the New Jersey Commission on National and Community Service. The\nfocus of this review was on the education award program only.\n\nExit Conference\n\nThe contents of this report were discussed with representatives from TCNJ and the Corporation\nat an exit conference on February 24, 2009. A draft of this report was provided to officials of\nTCNJ and the Corporation for their comments on April 3, 2009. TCNJ and the Corporation\ngenerally agreed with all but one finding. TCNJ disagreed with the finding that members did not\nattend the AmeriCorps orientation, and stated that their attendance was documented by\nmember and campus coordinators' signatures in its Enrollment Workbook. The Corporation\nstated it would not deduct otherwise legitimate member hours served before the member signs\na contract or is officially enrolled in WBRS from the member's total hours of service. Responses\nfrom TCNJ and the Corporation are included verbatim as Appendices A and B, respectively, and\nare summarized in each finding.\n\n\n\n\n 2\n\x0c 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 600\n Bethesda, MD 20814-6332\n 301-951-3636\n 301-951-0425\n www.mhm-pc.com\n\n\nInspector General\nCorporation for National and Community Service\n\n INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS' REPORT ON\n ApPLYING AGREED-UPON PROCEDURES\n\nWe performed the procedures described below for TCNJ's education award program grants for\nthe period September 14, 2005, to October 13, 2008. The procedures were agreed to by the\nOIG solely to assist it in compliance testing of Corporation-funded Federal assistance provided\nto TCNJ for the awards and periods listed below, with a combined award period of November\n10, 2004, to August 31, 2010. This engagement was performed in accordance with standards\nestablished by the American. Institute of Certified Public Accountants and generally accepted\ngovernment auditing standards. The sufficiency of these procedures is solely the responsibility\nof the OIG. Consequently, we make no representation regarding the sufficiency of the\nprocedures described below, either for the purpose for which this report has been requested or\nany other purpose.\n\n Program Award Number Award Period Testing Period\n Education Award 04EDHNJ001 11 11 0104 to 12/08/09 09/14/05 to 10/13/08\n Education Award 07EDHNJ001 09/01/07 to 08/31/10 09/01/07 to 10/13/08\n\nWe were not engaged to, and did not perform an examination, the objective of which would be\nthe expression of an opinion on management's assertions. Accordingly, we do not express\nsuch an opinion. Had we performed other procedures, other matters might have come to our\nattention that would have been reported to you.\n\nThe procedures that we performed included obtaining an understanding of TCNJ's policies and\nprocedures, and testing compliance with selected grant provisions and award terms and\nconditions.\n\nWe performed the following procedures to verify that:\n\n \xe2\x80\xa2 Hours recorded on members' timesheets supported their eligibility to earn\n education awards;\n\n Timesheets, forms, and contracts were in members' files and were signed, dated,\n and did not contain discrepancies;\n\n Service hours reported in the Corporation's Web-Based Reporting System\n (WBRS) agreed with hours recorded on timesheets;\n\n\n\n\n 3\n\x0c Members were U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents and had\n obtained high-school diplomas or equivalency certificates;\n\n Criminal background checks were conducted for members who had substantial\n recurring contact with children or other vulnerable individuals;\n\n Contracts were signed by members and included required AmeriCorps\n stipulations;\n\n\n \xe2\x80\xa2 End-of-term member performance evaluations were performed and documented;\n\n \xe2\x80\xa2 Members who received a prorated education award were released for compelling\n personal circumstances;\n\n Enrollment, exit, and change-of status-forms were completed and approved in\n WBRS within 30 days of members starting and ending service or changing their\n status;\n\n \xe2\x80\xa2 Members attended pre-service orientation sessions;\n\n \xe2\x80\xa2 TCNJ certified to the National Service Trust that members were eligible to\n receive education awards; and\n\n No more than 20 percent of the aggregate of all AmeriCorps members' service\n hours was spent in training and educational activities.\n\n\n Results - Education Awards\n\nOur testing results are summarized in Exhibit A on the following page. These awards are\nfunded by the National Service Trust, not the Corporation grant. TCNJ received grant funds of\n$400 during program years (PYs) 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 for each member in the program,\nand $600 during PY 2007-2008. As part of our AUP, we determined the effect of member\nprogram hours and eligibility on these education awards.\n\n\n\n\n 4\n\x0c Exhibit A -\n\n Schedule of Questioned Education Awards\n The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)\n\n Awards 04EDHNJ001 and 07EDHNJ001\n\n\n Reference\n\nNumber of Members\n 04EDHNJ001 2004 Education Award Grant 1,618\n 07EDHNJ001 2007 Education Award Grant 697\n 2,315 Note 1\n\nSample of Members Tested\n 04EDHNJ001 2004 Education Award Grant 92\n 07EDHNJ001 2007 Education Award Grant 24\n 116 Note 2\n\nQuestioned Education Awards:\n Service Hours Prior to Enrollment Date :s 3,362 Note 3\n\n\n\n\n1. The amount shown represents the total number of members during PYs 2005-2006,\n 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.\n\n2. The amount shown represents the total number of members tested during our audit.\n\n3. Two members started their service prior to their enrollment date (see Finding 3).\n\n\n\n\n 5\n\x0cResults - Compliance and Internal Control\n\nWe found instances of non-compliance with grant provisions or regulations, as shown\nbelow:\n\nFinding No. 1 - Lack of Adequate Procedures and Controls to Ensure Members'\nCriminal Background Checks are Performed\n\nOf the 116 member files tested, 53 had substantial recurring contact with children or\nvulnerable individuals but did not have a criminal background check performed. The total\nincluded 39 members in PY 2005-2006, 13 members in PY 2006-2007, and one member in\nPY 2007 -200B.\n\nThis condition was recognized by TCNJ during its site monitoring visits. Prior to January\n200B, TCNJ's policy required that the background checks be performed where members\nwere serving, that is, by either the affiliated campus or the community partner. Because\nresponsibility for the background checks was shared by one of these two parties, TCNJ\nbelieves the checks were not being completed because each party expected it to be\ncompleted by the other party. Therefore, in January 200B, TCNJ revised its policy to require\nbackground checks be completed by TCNJ. All 53 exceptions in this finding occurred before\nimplementation of the Corporation's revised criminal background check policy, which\nbecame effective November 23, 2007.\n\nCriteria\n\n2005 AmeriCorps Education Award Program (EAP) Special Provisions, Section IV.C.\nMember Enrollment, Paragraph 7, Criminal Background Checks, states in part:\n\n Programs with members (1B and over) or grant-funded employees who, on a\n recurring basis, have access to children (usually defined under state or local\n law as un-emancipated minors under the age of 1B) or to individuals\n considered vulnerable by the program (Le. the elderly or individuals who are\n either physically or mentally disabled), shall, to the extent permitted by state\n and local law, conduct criminal background checks on these members or\n employees as part of the overall screening process.\n\n The grantee must ensure, to the extent permitted by state or local law, that it\n maintains background check documentation for members and employees\n covered by this provision in the member or employee's file or other\n appropriate file. The documentation must demonstrate that, in selecting or\n placing an individual, the grantee or the grantee's designee (such as a site\n sponsor) reviewed and considered the background check results.\n\nRecommendations\n\nWe recommend that the Corporation:\n\n\n\n\n 6\n\x0c1a. Ensure that TCNJ complies with its program requirements and provisions with regard\n to performing and documenting criminal background checks on members when\n required.\n\n1b. Verify implementation of the background check procedures.\n\nTCNJ's Response\n\nTCNJ concurs with this finding. The grantee took several steps prior to the audit to rectify\nthis issue when it became apparent during site monitoring. During program year 2007-2008,\nTCNJ significantly modified its policy on performing and documenting criminal background\nchecks. In January 2008, TCNJ instituted a new enrollment policy whereby all AmeriCorps\nmembers are subject to a criminal background check prior to enrollment. The Member\nEnrollment Workbook now contains a criminal background check process. Program staff at\nthe National Office now performs all criminal background checks, and results of the criminal\nbackground check are maintained in the member file.\n\nCorporation's Response\n\nThe Corporation stated that it reviewed the revised policy and confirmed that it addresses\nthe recommendation. Additionally, the Corporation stated that it will follow up with TCNJ to\nconfirm implementation.\n\nAuditor's Comment\n\nThe Corporation should consider the actions taken by TCNJ and follow up to ensure that\ncriminal background check policies and procedures are implemented and effective.\n\nFinding No.2 - Lack of Adequate Procedures and Controls to Ensure Service Hours\nare Recorded Only After Members' Contracts are Signed\n\nThirteen of the 116 members tested did not sign their member service agreement prior to\nbeginning their term of service. The total included eight members in PY 2005-2006, four\nmembers in PY 2006-2007, and one member in PY 2007-2008.\n\nProgram sites are required to submit a complete and accurate member enrollment package\nto TCNJ so the information can be entered into the Corporation's Web-based Reporting\nSystem (WBRS). TCNJ stated that the sites were including unsigned member service\nagreements with their member enrollment packages. Due to a shortage of staff, TCNJ was\nnot properly reviewing the packages and entered new members into WBRS who did not\nhave signed member service agreements.\n\nCriteria\n\n2005 AmeriCorps EAP Special Provisions, Section IV.C. Member Enrollment,\nParagraph 1, Member Enrollment Procedures, states in part:\n\n a. An individual is enrolled as an AmeriCorps member when all of the\n following have occurred:\n\n i. He or she has signed a member contract;\n\n\n 7\n\x0c ii. The program has verified the individual's eligibility to serve;\n iii. The individual has begun a term of service; and\n iv. The program has approved the member enrollment form in WBRS.\n\n b. Prior to enrolling a member in AmeriCorps, programs make commitments\n to individuals to serve. A commitment is defined as signing a member\n contract with an individual or otherwise entering into a legally enforceable\n commitment as determined by state law.\n\n2005 AmeriCorps EAP Special Provisions, Section IV.F. Terms of Service, Paragraph 1,\nProgram Requirements, states in part:\n\n Each Program must, at the start of the term of service, establish the\n guidelines and definitions for the successful completion of the program year,\n ensuring that these Program requirements meet the Corporation's service\n hour requirements as defined below:\n\n a. Full-Time Members. Members must service at least 1700 hours\n during a period of not less than nine months and not more than one\n year.\n b. Half-Time Members. Half-time members must serve at least 900\n hours during a period of one or two years as indicated in the approved\n budget.\n c. Reduced Half-Time Members. Reduced half-time members must\n serve at least 675 hours over a time not to exceed one year.\n d. Quarter-Time Members. Quarter-time members must serve at least\n 450 hours over a time not to exceed one year.\n e. Minimum Time Members. Minimum time members must serve at\n least 300 hours over a time not to exceed one year.\n\nRecommendation\n\n2. We recommend that the Corporation ensure that TCNJ strengthens controls to\n ensure that member contracts are signed before service hours are recorded.\n\nTCNJ's Response\n\nTCNJ concurs with this finding and has implemented policies and procedures to ensure\ncompliance with Corporation requirements. In August 2008, TCNJ hired an Enrollment\nManager whose responsibilities include verifying that every member contract is signed prior\nto or on the first day of service. Program staff enrolls members based on the signature date\non the member contract. In the event that the signature date is different from the requested\nstart date in the member contract, program staff enrolls the member based on the day\nhe/she signed the member contract. The member is notified of the change in start date and\nis required to confirm his/her acceptance of the change via an email notification.\n\nCorporation's Response\n\nThe Corporation does not agree that otherwise legitimate hours served before a member\nsigns a contract or is officially enrolled in WBRS should be deducted from total hours of\nservice. Therefore, the Corporation considers any education awards questioned based on\n\n\n 8\n\x0cthis finding alone to be properly certified and allowed. However, the Corporation stated that\nit considers this requirement an important compliance issue and that it required TCNJ to\ntake corrective action. The Corporation will confirm that the procedures have been\nimplemented effectively.\n\nAuditor's Comment\n\nThe actions described, if implemented by the grantee and verified by the Corporation,\nshould resolve the finding.\n\nFinding No.3 - Service Hours Recorded Prior to Members' Enrollment Date\n\nTwo of the 116 members tested started their service prior to their enrollment date, as shown\nin WBRS. One member was enrolled as a minimum-time member and received an\neducation award of $1,000. The other person was enrolled as a half-time member and\nreceived an education award of $2,362. TCNJ stated that this condition was caused by a\nshortage of staff needed to enter large amounts of data into WBRS.\n\nWe deducted hours served prior to the enrollment date from each member's total hours.\nAfter deducting these hours, the members did not meet the required minimum hours to\nreceive an education award. Therefore, we questioned education awards of $3,362.\n\nCriteria\n\n2005 AmeriCorps EAP Special Provisions Education Award, Section IV.F. Terms of Service,\nParagraph 2, Program Requirements, states in part:\n\n Each Program must, at the start of the term of service, establish the\n guidelines and definitions for the successful completion of the PY, ensuring\n that these Program requirements meet the Corporation's service hour\n requirements as defined below:\n\n a. Full-Time Members. Members must service at least 1700 hours\n during a period of not less than nine months and not more than one\n year.\n b. Half-Time Members. Half-time members must serve at least 900\n hours during a period of one or two years as indicated in the approved\n budget.\n c. Reduced Half-Time Members. Reduced half-time members must\n serve at least 675 hours over a time not to exceed one year.\n d. Quarter-Time Members. Quarter-time members must serve at least\n 450 hours over a time not to exceed one year.\n e. Minimum Time Members. Minimum time members must serve at least 300\n hours over a time not to exceed one year.\n\n\nRecommendation\n\n3. We recommend that the Corporation recover questioned education awards of $3,362\n from the grantee, and ensure that TCNJ adheres to program requirements and\n\n\n\n 9\n\x0c provisions to prevent service hours from being recorded prior to the member's -\n enrollment date.\n\nTCNJ's Response\n\nTCNJ acknowledges that a clerical error resulted in two members receiving an education\naward although they did not complete the required number of hours. TCNJ has\nimplemented a corrective action plan to ensure that this type of error does not occur again.\nTCNJ's timekeeping system is programmed to include only those hours on or after the\nmember's official start date on his/her first month's time sheet. TCNJ has also implemented\nan exit certification checklist that is completed before a member is exited from the\nAmeriCorps Program. The checklist includes verification that all hours were completed\nbetween the official start date and the required completion date.\n\nCorporation's Response\n\nThe Corporation required TCNJ to take corrective action, and will confirm that the\nprocedures have been implemented effectively.\n\nAuditor's Comment\n\nTCNJ's corrective actions are responsive to the finding.\n\n\nFinding No. 4 - Late Submission of Member Enrollment, Exit, and Change-of-Status\nForms\n\nEnrollment Forms\n\nEnrollment forms were not submitted in a timely manner for 32 of the 116 members tested.\nEnrollment forms were submitted more than 30 days after the members' start of service date\nfor 28 members in PY 2005-2006 and four members in PY 2006-2007. TCNJ stated that\nenrollment forms were submitted late due to a shortage of staff.\n\nExit Forms\n\nExit forms were not submitted in a timely manner for 44 of the 116 members tested. Exit\nforms were submitted more than 30 days after the members completed service for 20\nmembers in PY 2005-2006,23 members in PY 2006-2007, and 1 member in PY 2007-2008.\nTCNJ stated it was their understanding it had 30 days from the expected last day of service,\ninstead of 30 days from the actual last day of service, to submit exit forms.\n\nChange-of-Status Forms\n\nChange-of-status forms were not submitted in a timely manner for one member who served\nduring PY 2006-2007. TCNJ stated that an incorrect status change date was entered into\nWBRS. This was based on a decision by the former program director who is no longer\nemployed by the grantee.\n\n\n\n\n 10\n\x0cCriteria\n\n2005 AmeriCorps EAP Special Provisions Education Award, Section IV.0.3. AmeriCorps\nMember-Related Forms, states:\n\n The grantee is required to submit the following documents to the National\n Service Trust at the Corporation on forms provided by the Corporation.\n Grantees and sub-grantees may use WBRS to submit these forms\n electronically. Programs using WBRS must also maintain hard copies of the\n forms.\n\n a. Enrollment Forms. Enrollment forms must be submitted no later than\n 30 days after a member is enrolled.\n b. Change of Status Forms. Member Change of Status Forms must be\n submitted no later than 30 days after a member's status is changed.\n By forwarding Member Change of Status Forms to the Corporation,\n State Commissions and Parent Organizations signal their approval of\n the change.\n c. ExitiEnd-of-Term-of-Service Forms. Member ExitiEnd-of-Term-of-\n Service Forms must be submitted no later than 30 days after a\n member exits the program or finishes his/her term of service.\n\nRecommendation\n\n4. We recommend that the Corporation direct TCNJ to develop effective control\n procedures to ensure member enrollment, exit, and change-of-status forms are\n completed and submitted in a timely manner.\n\nTCNJ's Response\n\nTCNJ concurs with this finding. Program staff continues to work with campus coordinators\nto ensure that enrollment, exit and change-of-status materials reach the National office\nwithin 20 days of the effective date. The Enrollment Manager and program associates are\nresponsible for completing the enrollment, exit and change-of-status forms in WBRS within\nthe 30.:.day timeframe. For exit forms, the timekeeping system sends an automatic\nnotification to both the member and the campus supervisor when the member is\napproaching his/her exit date and the member has logged the required number of hours in\nthe system. The automatic notification instructs the member and campus Program staff to\nsubmit any outstanding time sheets and the required exit paperwork.\n\nCorporation's Response\n\nThe Corporation stated that it agrees with the auditor's recommendation and that the actions\nproposed by TCNJ address the recommendation. The Corporation will confirm\nimplementation during the audit resolution period.\n\nAuditor's Comment\n\nThe corrective actions cited are responsive to the finding.\n\n\n\n\n 11\n\x0cFinding No. 5 - Lack of Adequate Procedures and Controls to Ensure that Members\nAttend Orientation Prior to Starting Service\n\nThirty-four of the 116 members tested did not attend orientation prior to their start of service.\nDocumentation was not found to verify that 10 members in PY 2005-2006, 15 members in\nPY 2006-2007, and 9 members in PY 2007-2008 attended pre-service orientation. TCNJ\ndid not know the cause of this condition.\n\nCriteria\n\n2005 AmeriCorps EAP Special Provisions, Section IV.E. Training, Supervision and Support,\nParagraph 3, states in part:\n\n Consistent with the approved budget, the grantee must provide members with\n the training, skills, knowledge and supervision necessary to perform the tasks\n required in their assigned project positions, including specific training in a\n particular field and background information on the community served.\n\n The grantee must conduct an orientation for members and comply with any\n pre-service orientation or training required by the Corporation. This\n orientation should be designed to enhance member security and sensitivity to\n the community. Orientation should cover member rights and responsibilities,\n including the Program's code of conduct, prohibited activities (including those\n specified in the regulations), requirements under the Drug-Free Workplace\n Act (41 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), suspension and termination from service,\n grievance procedures, sexual harassment, other non-discrimination issues,\n and other topics as necessary.\n\nRecommendation\n\n5. We recommend that the Corporation ensure that TCNJ develop control procedures\n to ensure that all new members attend pre-service orientation, and that TCNJ\n maintain documentation to support members' attendance.\n\nTCNJ's Response\n\nTCNJ does not agree with this finding. TCNJ's previous policy stipulated that signatures of\nthe member and the campus coordinator in its Enrollment Workbook served as a\ncertification that the member received an AmeriCorps orientation. The contract outlines\nmember rights and responsibilities, member code of conduct, prohibited activities, drug free\nworkplace policy, suspension and termination policies, grievance procedures and\nnondiscrimination policies. TCNJ implemented new policies and procedures related to the\nAmeriCorps orientation in 2008. The new Enrollment Workbook contains a separate section\nin which the member and the campus coordinator certify that the member received\norientation in compliance with AmeriCorps regulations. In addition, members are instructed\nto log the orientation session as the first entry on their first time sheet to document\nattendance.\n\n\n\n\n 12\n\x0cCorporation's Response\n\nThe Corporation will follow up with TCNJ to confirm implementation.\n\nAuditor's Comment\n\nThe Corporation should consider the actions taken by TCNJ and follow up to ensure the\nactions are implemented and effective. However, we maintain our position that orientation\ndocumentation should be maintained for all members. We believe the signing of the\nEnrollment Workbook by the member does not suffice as orientation. We were not provided\nwith evidence that orientation was conducted for the 34 members in question. Additionally,\nas mentioned in its response to the draft report, TCNJ implemented new policies and\nprocedures as a direct response to our finding.\n\nFinding No.6 - Lack of Adequate Procedures and Controls to Ensure End-of-Term\nEvaluations are Performed\n\nEnd-of-term evaluations were not performed for 93 members tested. That total included 46\nmembers in PY 2005-2006; 46 members in PY 2006-2007; and one member in PY 2006-\n2007. TCNJ's evaluation process required that self-evaluations or peer-to-peer evaluations\nbe performed at the end of a member's term. However, this procedure is not in accordance\nwith AmeriCorps Provisions, which require evaluations to be performed by supervisors.\n\n\nThe TCNJ grants that we reviewed were awarded before 2008. Therefore, we did not\nquestion costs for members serving a second term without an end-of-term evaluation for the\nprevious term. Starting in 2008, grant provisions for awards required end-of-term\nevaluations to determine a member's eligibility to serve a second term.\n\nCriteria\n\n2005 AmeriCorps EAP Special Provisions, Section IV.E. Training, Supervision and Support,\nParagraph 6, Performance Reviews, states in part:\n\n The grantee must conduct and keep a record of at least a midterm and end-\n of-term written evaluation of each member's performance for Full and Half-\n Time members and an end-of-term written evaluation for less than Half-time\n members. The evaluation should focus on such factors as:\n\n a. Whether the member has completed the required number of hours;\n b. Whether the member has satisfactorily completed assignments; and\n c. Whether the member has met other performance criteria that were\n clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.\n\n45 C.F.R. \xc2\xa7 2522.220(c), Eligibility for a second term, states in part:\n\n A participant will only be eligible to serve a second or additional term of\n service if that individual has received satisfactory performance review(s) for\n any previous term(s) of service.\n\n\n\n\n 13\n\x0cRecommendation\n\n6. We recommend that the Corporation direct TCNJ to develop and implement control\n procedures to ensure required end-of-term evaluations are completed and submitted\n to program officials in a timely manner.\n\nTCNJ's Response\n\nTCNJ acknowledges this finding. Prior to the audit, TCNJ's evaluation process included\nboth self-evaluations and peer-to-peer evaluations. TCNJ is now in the process of\nimplementing end-of-term evaluations that include information outlined in the AmeriCorps\nProvisions. TCNJ will integrate the evaluations into its timekeeping system by June 1, 2009.\n\nCorporation's Response\n\nThe Corporation stated that it will follow up with TCNJ to confirm implementation.\n\nAuditor's Comment\n\nThe Corporation should consider the actions proposed by TCNJ and follow up to ensure the\nactions are implemented and effective.\n\n\n\nThis report is intended for the information and use of the Office of Inspector General,\nCorporation management, and the U.S. Congress. However, this report is a matter of public\nrecord and its distribution is not limited.\n\n\n\n\nBethesda, Maryland\nMay 12, 2009\n\n\n\n\n 14\n\x0c APPENDIX A\n\n THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY\xe2\x80\x99S\nRESPONSE TO THE DRAFT REPORT\n\x0c The College of New Jersey\n\n29 April 2009\n Office of Academic Affairs PO Box 7718\n Vice Provost Ewing, NJ 08628-0718\n\n p) 609.771.2515\nMr. Stuart Axenfeld F) 609.637.5161\nAssistant Inspector General for Audit E) pasch@tcnj.edu\nCorporation for National and Community Service w) www.tcnj.edu\n\n1201 New York Avenue NW, Suite 830\nWashington, DC 20525\n\n\nDear Mr. Axenfeld:\n\nEnclosed please find The College of New Jersey's response to the draft report on the\nAgreed Upon Procedures for Corporationfor National and Community Service Grants\nAwarded to The College of New Jersey.\n\nThank you for providing us with the opportunity for continuous program improvement\nthrough the Office of Inspector General audit process. We look forward to working with\nthe Corporation to resolve the findings identified in the repoli.\n\nPlease do not hesitate to contact me with any further questions.\n\nSincerely,\n\n\nCCtgJJ~~\nProvost\nThe College of New Jersey\n\x0cThe College of New Jersey Response to Inspector General Audit Report\n\nFinding 1: Lack of Adequate Procedures and Controls to Ensure Members'\nCriminal Background Checks are Performed\n\nThe College of New Jersey concurs with this finding. The College took several steps\nprior to the audit to rectify this issue when it became apparent during site monitoring.\nDuring the 2007-2008 grant year, The College of New Jersey significantly modified its\npolicy on performing and documenting criminal background checks. In January 2008,\nthe College instituted a new policy whereby all AmeriCorps members are subject to a\ncriminal background check prior to enrollment. The Member Enrollment Workbook now\ncontains a criminal background check authorization form. In addition, the College\ncentralized the criminal background check process. Program staff at the National Office\nin Princeton, New Jersey now perform all criminal background checks. Results of the\ncriminal background check are maintained in the member file. The updated criminal\nbackground check policy is documented in the College's Bonner ArneriCorps Policy and\nProcedures Manual. The College is confident that its current policies and procedures will\nensure that criminal background checks are performed and maintained in compliance\nwith CNCS regulations.\n\nFinding 2: Lack of Adequate Procedures and Controls to Ensure Service Hours are\nRecorded Only After Members' Contracts are Signed\n\nThe College of New Jersey agrees with this finding and has implemented policies and\nprocedures to ensure compliance with CNCS requirements. In August 2008, The College\nhired an Enrollment Manager whose responsibilities include verifying that every member\ncontract is signed prior to or on the first day of service. Program staff enroll members\nbased on the signature date on the member contract. In the event that the signature date is\ndifferent from the requested start date in the member contract, program staff enroll the\nmember based upon the day he/she signed the member contract. The member is notified\nof the change in start date and is required to confirm hislher acceptance of the change via\nan email notification. This policy is documented in the College's Bonner AmeriCorps\nPolicy and Procedures Manual.\n\nFinding 3: Service Hours Record Prior to Members' Enrollment Date\n\nThe College of New Jersey acknowledges that a clerical error resulted in two members\nreceiving an education award even though they did not complete the required number of\nhours. The College has implemented a corrective action plan to ensure that this type of\nerror does not occur again. The College's Bonner Web-Based Reporting System is now\nprogrammed to include only those hours on or after the member's official start date on\nhislher first month's time sheet. The College has also implemented an exit certification\nchecklist that is completed before a member is exited from the AmeriCorps Program. The\nchecklist includes verification that all hours were completed between the official start\ndate and the required completion date.\n\x0cThe College respectfully requests that the questioned education award costs of $3,362.00\nbe prorated to reflect the monetary equivalent of the discrepancy between the number of\nhours required for an education award and the number of hours served for each identified\nmember. The 300 hour member in question served 294.5 hours. The 900 hour member\nin question served 893 hours. The College will provide the Corporation with copies of\nthe members' files to document the total number of hours served.\n\nThe College believes the changes made to its Bonner Web-Based Reporting System and\nthe internal controls implemented will make certain this error does not occur again.\n\nFinding 4: Late Submission of Member Enrollment, Exit, and Change-of-\nStatus Forms\n\nThe College of New Jersey concurs with this finding. Over the last two grant years,\nprogram staffhave made significant progress towards adhering to the 30-day rule for\nmember enrollment, exit and change-of-status forms. Program staff continue to work\nwith campus coordinators to ensure that enrollment, exit and change-of-status materials\nreach the National office within 20 days of the effective date. The Enrollment Manager\nand Program Associates are then responsible for completing the enrollment, exit and\nchange-of-status forms in WBRS within the 30-day timeframe.\n\nEnrollment: In the event that member enrollment materials do not reach the National\noffice within the 30-day timeframe, the member's start date is adjusted to fit within the\n30-day time period. The member is notified of the change and must acknowledge the\nadjustment via an email notification to National Program staff. This policy is\ndocumented in the College's Bonner AmeriCorps Policy and Procedures Manual.\n\nExit: The College's Bonner Web-based Reporting System now sends an automatic\nnotification to both the member and the campus supervisor when a) the member is\napproaching his or her exit date and b) the member has logged the required number of\nhours in the system. The automatic notification instructs the member and campus\nsupervisor to submit any outstanding time sheets and the required exit paperwork.\nProgram staff also run a query at the beginning of each month to determine which\nmembers are required to exit that month. Program staff then contact the appropriate\ncampus directors to ensure they are aware of the members due to exit. This policy is\ndocumented in the College's Bonner AmeriCorps Policy and Procedures Manual.\n\nChange of Status: In the event that change-of-status materials do not reach the National\noffice within the 30-day timeframe, the date is adjusted to fit with the 30-day time period.\nThe member is notified of the change and must acknowledge the adjustment via an email\nnotification. This policy is documented in the College's Bonner AmeriCorps Policy and\nProcedures Manual.\n\nFinding 5: Lack of Adequate Procedures and Controls to Ensure that Members\nAttend Orientation Prior to Starting Service\n\x0cThe College of New Jersey does not agree with this finding. The College's policy at the\ntime stipulated that the signature of the member and the campus coordinator in the\nEnrollment Workbook served as a certification that the member received an AmeriCorps\nOrientation per a review of the Member Contract with hislher campus coordinator. The\ncontract outlines member rights and responsibilities, member code of conduct, prohibited\nactivities, drug free workplace policy, suspension and termination policies, grievance\nprocedures and nondiscrimination policies. In order to clarify this, the College\nimplemented new policies and procedures related to the AmeriCorps Orientation in 2008.\nThe new Enrollment Workbook contains a separate section in which the member and the\ncampus coordinator certify that the member received an AmeriCorps Orientation in\ncompliance with the stipulations outlined in the AmeriCorps regulations. In addition,\nmembers are instructed to log the AmeriCorps Orientation as the first entry on their first\ntime sheet to document attendance. This policy is documented in the College's Bonner\nAmeriCorps Policy and Procedures Manual.\n\nFinding 6: Lack of Adequate Procedures and Controls to Ensure End-of-Term\nEvaluations are Performed\n\nThe College of New Jersey acknowledges this finding. Prior to the audit period, the\nCollege's evaluation process included both self-evaluations and peer-to-peer evaluations.\nThe College is now in the process of implementing end-of-term evaluations per the\nrequirements of the AmeriCorps Provisions. Program staffhave developed the end-of-\nterm evaluation to include the information outlined in the AmeriCorps Provisions. The\nevaluation will be integrated into the College's Bonner Web-based Reporting System by\nJune 1, 2009. When a member reaches the end of hislher term of service, the campus\ncoordinator will receive an electronic notification requesting the completion of the\nevaluation. Members will have an opportunity to review and ask questions concerning\nhislher evaluation during scheduled meetings with the campus coordinator. This policy is\ndocumented in the College's Bonner AmeriCorps Policy and Procedures Manual.\n\nThe College is confident that the new on-line evaluation system will enable us to rectify\nthis issue in a timely manner.\n\x0c APPENDIX B\n\nCORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE\xe2\x80\x99S\n RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT REPORT\n\x0c NATIONAL &\n COMMUNITY\n SERVICE~\n\nTo: nfeld, As~~~ctor General for Audit\n\nFrom: ~~~anagement\nCc: William aels'on, Acting ChiefFU Officer\n Lois Nembhard, Deputy Director for AmeriCorps National\n Frank Trinity, General Counsel\n Sherry Blue, Audit Resolution Coordinator\n\nDate: April 30,2009\n\nSubj: Response to OIG Draft of Agreed-Upon Procedures Review of Education\n Award Program Grants Awarded to the College of New Jersey\n\n\nThank you for the opportunity to review the draft Agreed-Upon Procedures review of the\nCorporation's Education Award Program grants awarded to the College of New Jersey.\nWeare addressing all findings at this time.\n\nAs noted by the auditors in Finding #1, lack of background checks, the College of New\nJersey had also identified the issue on its site monitoring visits in 2008 and was revising\nits policies to ensure all background checks are completed. The Corporation reviewed\nthe revised policy and confirmed it addresses the recommendation. We will follow up\nwith the college to confirm implementation.\n\nFindings #2 and #3 are both related to whether service hours earned before a member\nsigns a contract or is formally enrolled in the WBRS system can be counted toward the\neducation award. As we have noted in other recent audits, the Corporation does not agree\nthat otherwise legitimate hours served before a member signs a contract or is officially\nenrolled in WBRS should be deducted from total hours of service. The audit report does\nnot provide any evidence that the members engaged in inappropriate service activities or\nthat they served outside of the period of performance of the grant. The only issue raised\nby the audit report in Findings #2 and #3 is whether service hours may be recorded prior\nto an individual signing a member contract or officially enrolling. Therefore, the\nCorporation shall consider any education awards questioned based on these findings\nalone to be properly certified and allowed. However, these requirements are important\ncompliance issues and the Corporation required the College of New Jersey to take\ncorrective action. The college has hired a staff member who will be responsible for\nimplementing procedures to ensure member contracts are signed prior to or on the first\nday of service. The college also enhanced its own web-based reporting system to\n\x0cestablish a control on enrollment dates. As recommended in the report, the Corporation\nwill confirm that the procedures have been implemented effectively.\n\nFinding #4 noted that required enrollment, exit and change of status forms were not\nalways entered into the WBRS system within the required 30 days. We agree with the\nauditor's recommendation to ensure that the college develops effective control\nprocedures to ensure the forms are submitted on time. The college has added a staff\nposition responsible for tracking and ensuring timely form submissions and has added\nautomatic notifications in its web-based reporting system of impending due dates. These\nactions adequately address the recommendation and the Corporation will confirm\nimplementation during the audit resolution period.\n\nThe college did not agree with Finding #5 which indicated a lack of procedures to ensure\nmembers attended orientation. Procedures at the time of the audit stipulated that\nmember and supervisor signatures on the enrollment workbook served as documentation\nbecause the enrollment workbook contained the orientation materials. However, the\ncollege revised its policies and, beginning in 2008, added a certification section in the\nworkbook that makes it clear the member received the orientation. In addition, members\nnow log the orientation as -the first entry on their timesheets. As recommended in the\naudit, the Corporation will follow-up to confirm effective implementation during the\naudit resolution period.\n\nFinally, the college agrees with Finding #6, related to evaluations. They are revising\ntheir policies to require evaluations by supervisors, instead of their current peer and self\nevaluation processes. The program anticipates implementation in its web-based reporting\nsystem by June 1, 2009. As recommended in the audit, the Corporation will follow-up to\nconfirm effective implementation during the audit resolution period. We should also note\nthat the Corporation was not clear during this same period covered by the OIG review\nthat evaluations were required under the fixed-price education award grants. We have\nnow combined the EAP Provisions with the AmeriCorps Provisions and clarified the\nrequirement for evaluations with the Education Award Programs.\n\x0c"


type: legislation

jurisdiction: EU

text:
 EUROOPA KOMISJON
 Brüssel,14.9.2015
 COM(2015) 433 final
 2015/0196(NLE)
 Ettepanek:
 NÕUKOGU OTSUS
 Euroopa Liidu ja Tonga Kuningriigi vahelise lühiajalise viisa nõudest loobumist käsitleva lepingu sõlmimise kohta
 SELETUSKIRI
 1.ETTEPANEKU TAUST
 Nõukogu määruses (EÜ) nr 539/2001
 1
 on loetletud kolmandad riigid, kelle kodanikel peab liikmesriikide välispiiride ületamisel olema viisa, ja need kolmandad riigid, kelle kodanikud on sellest nõudest vabastatud. Määrust (EÜ) nr 539/2001 kohaldavad kõik liikmesriigid peale Iirimaa ja Ühendkuningriigi.
 Euroopa Parlamendi ja nõukogu määrusega (EL) nr 509/2014
 2
 muudeti määrust (EÜ) nr 539/2001, kandes 19 riiki üle II lisasse, kus on loetletud kolmandad riigid, kelle kodanikud on viisanõudest vabastatud. Kõnealused 19 riiki on: Araabia Ühendemiraadid, Belau, Colombia, Dominica, Grenada, Ida-Timor, Kiribati, Marshalli Saared, Mikroneesia, Nauru, Peruu, Saalomoni Saared, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent ja Grenadiinid, Samoa, Tonga, Trinidad ja Tobago, Tuvalu ning Vanuatu. II lisas on lisatud igale nimetatud riigile osutavale viitele joonealune märkus, milles täpsustatakse, et „vabastust viisanõudest kohaldatakse Euroopa Liiduga sõlmitava viisavabaduslepingu jõustumise kuupäevast”.
 Määrus (EL) nr 509/2014 võeti vastu 20. mail 2014 ja see jõustus 9. juunil 2014. Juulis 2014 esitas komisjon nõukogule soovituse anda talle volitused alustada läbirääkimisi viisavabaduslepingu sõlmimiseks järgmise 17 riigiga: Araabia Ühendemiraadid, Belau, Dominica, Grenada, Ida-Timor, Kiribati, Marshalli Saared, Mikroneesia, Nauru, Saalomoni Saared, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent ja Grenadiinid, Samoa, Tonga, Trinidad ja Tobago, Tuvalu ning Vanuatu
 3
 . 9. oktoobril 2014 esitas nõukogu komisjonile läbirääkimisjuhised.
 Esimesed viisavabaduslepingud sõlmiti 6. mail 2015 (Araabia Ühendemiraatidega), 26. mail 2015 (Ida-Timoriga) ja 28. mail 2015 (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincenti ja Grenadiinide, Samoa, Trinidadi ja Tobago ning Vanuatuga) ning alates lepingute allakirjutamise kuupäevast kuni nende jõustumiseni kohaldatakse neid ajutiselt.
 Läbirääkimisi viisavabaduslepingu sõlmimiseks Tongaga alustati 19. novembril 2014 Brüsselis. Kõnealusel kohtumisel vaadati läbi kogu lepingu eelnõu tekst ja jõuti kokkuleppele kõikides eelnõu aspektides. Pärast mitut järgnenud mitteametlikku mõttevahetust parafeerisid pealäbirääkijad lepingu kirjavahetuse teel 29. mail 2015 (Tonga) ja 10. juunil 2015 (EL). Liikmesriikidele teatati sellest nõukogu viisatöörühma 15. juuni 2015. aasta koosolekul.
 2.ÕIGUSLIK ALUS
 Liidu poolt on lepingu õiguslik alus Euroopa Liidu toimimise lepingu (edaspidi „ELi toimimise leping”) artikli 77 lõike 2 punkt a koostoimes artikliga 218.
 Lisatud ettepanek on õigusakt lepingu sõlmimiseks. Nõukogu teeb oma otsuse pärast lepingu alla kirjutamist kvalifitseeritud häälteenamusega liidu nimel nõukogu eesistuja määratud isiku vahendusel ning pärast Euroopa Parlamendilt nõusoleku saamist vastavalt ELi toimimise lepingu artikli 218 lõike 6 teise lõigu punktile a.
 3.LÄBIRÄÄKIMISTE TULEMUS
 Komisjon on seisukohal, et nõukogu läbirääkimisjuhistes seatud eesmärgid on saavutatud ja viisavabaduslepingu eelnõu on Euroopa Liidule vastuvõetav.
 Lepingu eelnõu lõpliku sisu võib kokku võtta järgmiselt:
 Eesmärk
 Lepinguga nähakse Euroopa Liidu ja Tonga kodanikele ette võimalus reisida viisavabalt teise lepinguosalise territooriumile kuni 90 päevaks mis tahes 180-päevase ajavahemiku jooksul.
 Kõikide ELi kodanike võrdse kohtlemise tagamiseks on lepingusse lisatud säte, mille kohaselt Tonga võib lepingu peatada või lõpetada ainult kõikide Euroopa Liidu liikmesriikide suhtes ning liit võib omakorda lepingu peatada või lõpetada ainult kõigi oma liikmesriikide nimel.
 Ühendkuningriigi ja Iirimaa eriseisundit on kajastatud otsuse preambulis.
 Kohaldamisala
 Viisanõudest on vabastatud kõik isikud (tava-, diplomaatilise, teenistus- või ametipassi ning eripassi kasutajad), kes reisivad kõikidel muudel eesmärkidel peale tasustatava töö tegemise. Viimasesse reisijate kategooriasse kuuluvate teise lepinguosalise kodanike suhtes on igal liikmesriigil ning samuti Tongal õigus kehtestada kooskõlas kohaldatavate liidu või riiklike õigusaktidega viisanõue. Ühtlase rakendamise tagamiseks on lepingule lisatud ühisdeklaratsioon, milles tõlgendatakse tasustatava töö tegemise eesmärgil reisivate isikute kategooriat.
 Viibimise kestus
 Lepinguga nähakse Euroopa Liidu ja Tonga kodanikele ette võimalus reisida viisavabalt teise lepinguosalise territooriumile kuni 90 päevaks mis tahes 180-päevase ajavahemiku jooksul. Lepingule on lisatud ühisdeklaratsioon, milles tõlgendatakse kõnealust 90-päevast ajavahemikku mis tahes 180-päevase ajavahemiku jooksul.
 Lepingus võetakse arvesse nende liikmesriikide olukorda, kes veel ei kohalda Schengeni acquis’d täies ulatuses. Kuni kõnealused liikmesriigid ei ole sisepiirideta Schengeni ala osa, nähakse Tonga kodanikele viisavabaduslepinguga ette õigus viibida lisaks kogu Schengeni ala kohta arvestatud ajavahemikule kuni 90 päeva mis tahes 180-päevase ajavahemiku jooksul iga kõnealuse liikmesriigi (Bulgaaria, Horvaatia, Küpros ja Rumeenia) territooriumil.
 Territoriaalne kohaldatavus
 Leping sisaldab territoriaalse kohaldatavusega seotud sätteid: Prantsusmaa ja Madalmaade puhul annab viisanõudest loobumine Tonga kodanikele õiguse viibida kõnealuste liikmesriikide Euroopas paikneval territooriumil.
 Deklaratsioonid
 Lisaks eespool nimetatud ühisdeklaratsioonidele on lepingule lisatud veel kaks ühisdeklaratsiooni:
 –ühisdeklaratsioon, mis käsitleb Norra, Islandi, Šveitsi ja Liechtensteini seost Schengeni acquis’ rakendamise, kohaldamise ja edasiarendamisega;
 –ühisdeklaratsioon viisavabaduslepingu sisu ja tagajärgi käsitleva ning muu asjakohase teabe, näiteks sissesõidunõuete laialdase levitamise kohta.
 4.KOKKUVÕTE
 Eespool esitatut silmas pidades teeb komisjon nõukogule ettepaneku kiita pärast Euroopa Parlamendilt nõusoleku saamist heaks Euroopa Liidu ja Tonga vaheline lühiajalise viisa nõudest loobumist käsitlev leping.
 2015/0196 (NLE)
 Ettepanek:
 NÕUKOGU OTSUS
 Euroopa Liidu ja Tonga Kuningriigi vahelise lühiajalise viisa nõudest loobumist käsitleva lepingu sõlmimise kohta
 EUROOPA LIIDU NÕUKOGU,
 võttes arvesse Euroopa Liidu toimimise lepingut, eriti selle artikli 77 lõike 2 punkti a koostoimes artikli 218 lõike 6 teise lõigu punktiga a,
 võttes arvesse Euroopa Komisjoni ettepanekut,
 võttes arvesse Euroopa Parlamendi nõusolekut,
 ning arvestades järgmist:
 (1)Komisjon on pidanud Euroopa Liidu nimel läbirääkimisi Tonga Kuningriigiga (edaspidi „Tonga”) sõlmitava lühiajalise viisa nõudest loobumist käsitleva lepingu (edaspidi „leping”) üle.
 (2)Leping allkirjastati kooskõlas nõukogu [...] otsusega .../.../EL Euroopa Liidu nimel ... 2015 ja seda on nimetatud kuupäevale järgnevast kuupäevast alates ajutiselt kohaldatud, eeldusel et leping hiljem sõlmitakse.
 (3)Leping tuleks heaks kiita.
 (4)Lepinguga luuakse lepingu haldamise ühiskomitee, kes võtab vastu oma töökorra. Sellisel juhul on asjakohane näha liidu seisukoha esitamiseks ette lihtsustatud kord.
 (5)Kooskõlas protokolliga Ühendkuningriigi ja Iirimaa seisukoha kohta vabadusel, turvalisusel ja õigusel rajaneva ala suhtes ning Euroopa Liidu raamistikku integreeritud Schengeni acquis'd käsitleva protokolliga, mis on lisatud Euroopa Liidu lepingule ja Euroopa Liidu toimimise lepingule, ei kohaldata käesolevat lepingut ei Ühendkuningriigi ega Iirimaa suhtes,
 ON VASTU VÕTNUD KÄESOLEVA OTSUSE:
 Artikkel 1
 Euroopa Liidu ja Tonga vaheline lühiajalise viisa nõudest loobumist käsitlev leping kiidetakse liidu nimel heaks.
 Artikkel 2
 Nõukogu eesistuja esitab lepingu artikli 8 lõikes 1
 4
 sätestatud teate.
 Artikkel 3
 Lepingu artikliga 6 moodustatud ekspertide ühiskomitees esindab liitu komisjon, keda abistavad liikmesriikide eksperdid.
 Artikkel 4
 Komisjon esitab ekspertide ühiskomitees liidu seisukoha lepingu artikli 6 lõike 4 kohase töökorra vastuvõtmise kohta pärast nõupidamist nõukogu määratud erikomiteega.
 Artikkel 5
 Käesolev otsus jõustub selle vastuvõtmise päeval.
 Brüssel,
 Nõukogu nimel
 eesistuja
 (1)
 Nõukogu määrus (EÜ) nr 539/2001, 15. märts 2001, milles loetletakse kolmandad riigid, kelle kodanikel peab välispiiride ületamisel olema viisa, ja need kolmandad riigid, kelle kodanikud on sellest nõudest vabastatud (EÜT L 81, 21.3.2001, lk 1).
 (2)
 Euroopa Parlamendi ja nõukogu määrus (EL) nr 509/2014, 15. mai 2014, millega muudetakse nõukogu määrust (EÜ) nr 539/2001, milles loetletakse kolmandad riigid, kelle kodanikel peab välispiiride ületamisel olema viisa, ja need kolmandad riigid, kelle kodanikud on sellest nõudest vabastatud (ELT L 149, 20.5.2014, lk 67).
 (3)
 COM(2014) 467, 17.7.2014.
 (4)
 Nõukogu peasekretariaat avaldab lepingu jõustumise kuupäeva Euroopa Liidu Teatajas.
 ---documentbreak---
 EUROOPA KOMISJON
 Brüssel,14.9.2015
 COM(2015) 433 final
 LISA
 (dokumendi juurde)
 Ettepanek: Nõukogu otsus
 Euroopa Liidu ja Tonga Kuningriigi vahelise lühiajalise viisa nõudest loobumist käsitleva lepingu sõlmimise kohta
 LISA
 (dokumendi juurde)
 Ettepanek: Nõukogu otsus
 Euroopa Liidu ja Tonga Kuningriigi vahelise lühiajalise viisa nõudest loobumist käsitleva lepingu sõlmimise kohta
 Euroopa Liidu ja Tonga Kuningriigi
 vaheline lühiajalise viisa nõudest loobumist käsitlev LEPING
 EUROOPA LIIT, edaspidi „liit” või „EL”, ja
 TONGA KUNINGRIIK, edaspidi „Tonga”,
 edaspidi koos „lepinguosalised”,
 PIDADES SILMAS lepinguosaliste sõbralike suhete edendamist ja soovides hõlbustada oma kodanike reisimist, tagades neile viisavaba riiki sisenemise ja lühiajalise riigis viibimise õiguse,
 VÕTTES ARVESSE Euroopa Parlamendi ja nõukogu 15. mai 2014. aasta määrust (EL) nr 509/2014 (millega muudetakse nõukogu määrust (EÜ) nr 539/2001, milles loetletakse kolmandad riigid, kelle kodanikel peab välispiiride ületamisel olema viisa, ja need kolmandad riigid, kelle kodanikud on sellest nõudest vabastatud),
 1
 millega kantakse muu hulgas 19 kolmandat riiki, sealhulgas Tonga, nende kolmandate riikide nimekirja, kelle kodanikud on lühiajalisel viibimisel liikmesriikides viisanõudest vabastatud,
 PIDADES SILMAS määruse (EL) nr 509/2014 artiklit 1, milles on sätestatud, et kõnealuse 19 riigi suhtes kohaldatakse viisanõudest vabastamist alates liiduga sõlmitava viisavabaduslepingu jõustumise kuupäevast,
 SOOVIDES kindlustada võrdse kohtlemise kõigile ELi kodanikele,
 VÕTTES ARVESSE, et käesolev leping ei hõlma isikuid, kes soovivad lühiajalise viibimise jooksul teha tasustatavat tööd, ning seetõttu kohaldatakse kõnealuste isikute suhtes ka edaspidi asjakohaseid liidu õigusnorme ja liikmesriikide õigusakte ning asjakohaseid Tonga õigusakte, mis käsitlevad viisanõude kehtestamist või viisanõudest vabastamist ja tööturule juurdepääsu,
 VÕTTES ARVESSE protokolli Ühendkuningriigi ja Iirimaa seisukoha kohta vabadusel, turvalisusel ja õigusel rajaneva ala suhtes ning Euroopa Liidu raamistikku integreeritud Schengeni acquis'd käsitlevat protokolli, mis on lisatud Euroopa Liidu lepingule ja Euroopa Liidu toimimise lepingule, ning kinnitades, et käesolevat lepingut ei kohaldata Ühendkuningriigi ega Iirimaa suhtes,
 ON KOKKU LEPPINUD JÄRGMISES:
 ARTIKKEL 1
 Eesmärk
 Käesoleva lepinguga nähakse liidu ja Tonga kodanikele ette võimalus reisida viisavabalt teise lepinguosalise territooriumile kuni 90 päevaks mis tahes 180-päevase ajavahemiku jooksul.
 ARTIKKEL 2
 Mõisted
 Käesolevas lepingus kasutatakse järgmisi mõisteid:
 a)
 „liikmesriik” – liidu liikmesriik, välja arvatud Ühendkuningriik ja Iirimaa;
 b)
 „liidu kodanik” – punktis a määratletud liikmesriigi kodanik;
 c)
 „Tonga kodanik” – isik, kellel on Tonga kodakondsus;
 d)
 „Schengeni ala” – sisepiirideta ala, mis hõlmab selliste punktis a määratletud liikmesriikide territooriumi, kes kohaldavad täielikult Schengeni acquis’d.
 ARTIKKEL 3
 Kohaldamisala
 1.
 Liidu kodanikud, kellel on liikmesriigi väljastatud kehtiv tava-, diplomaatiline, teenistus-, ameti- või eripass, võivad siseneda viisavabalt Tonga territooriumile ja viibida seal viisavabalt artikli 4 lõikes 1 kindlaks määratud ajavahemikul.
 Tonga kodanikud, kellel on Tonga väljastatud kehtiv tava-, diplomaatiline, teenistus-, ameti- või eripass, võivad siseneda viisavabalt liikmesriikide territooriumile ja viibida seal viisavabalt artikli 4 lõikes 2 kindlaks määratud ajavahemikul.
 2.
 Käesoleva artikli lõiget 1 ei kohaldada nende isikute suhtes, kes reisivad tasustatava töö tegemise eesmärgil.
 Kõnealuse isikute kategooria puhul võib iga liikmesriik vastavalt nõukogu määruse (EÜ) nr 539/2001
 2
 artikli 4 lõikele 3 kehtestada Tonga kodanike suhtes viisanõude või nad viisanõudest vabastada.
 Kõnealuse isikute kategooria puhul võib Tonga iga liikmesriigi kodanike suhtes kehtestada viisanõude või viisanõudest loobuda kooskõlas siseriikliku õigusega.
 3.
 Käesoleva lepinguga ette nähtud viisanõudest loobumise kohaldamine ei piira lepinguosaliste selliste õigusaktide kohaldamist, mis käsitlevad riiki sisenemise ja seal lühiajalise viibimise tingimusi. Liikmesriikidel ja Tongal on õigus keelata isikutel nende territooriumile siseneda ja seal lühiajaliselt viibida, kui üks või mitu kõnealust tingimust on täitmata.
 4.
 Viisanõudest loobumist kohaldatakse sõltumata sellest, missuguse transpordivahendiga reisijad lepinguosaliste piiri ületavad.
 5.
 Käesolevas lepingus käsitlemata küsimuste suhtes kohaldatakse liidu õigust ning liikmesriikide ja Tonga siseriiklikku õigust.
 ARTIKKEL 4
 Viibimise kestus
 1.
 Liidu kodanikud võivad viibida Tonga territooriumil kuni 90 päeva mis tahes 180-päevase ajavahemiku jooksul.
 2.
 Tonga kodanikud võivad viibida Schengeni acquis'd täielikult kohaldavate liikmesriikide territooriumil kuni 90 päeva mis tahes 180-päevase ajavahemiku jooksul. Kõnealuse ajavahemiku arvutamisel ei võeta arvesse viibimist sellises liikmesriigis, kes veel ei kohalda täielikult Schengeni acquis'd.
 Tonga kodanikud võivad viibida kuni 90 päeva mis tahes 180-päevase ajavahemiku jooksul iga sellise liikmesriigi territooriumil, kes veel ei kohalda täielikult Schengeni acquis'd; sellisel juhul ei võeta viibimise kestuse arvutamisel arvesse Schengeni acquis'd täielikult kohaldavate liikmesriikide territooriumil viibimise kestust.
 3.
 Käesoleva lepinguga ei piirata Tonga ja liikmesriikide võimalust lubada kooskõlas siseriikliku ja liidu õigusega viibida oma territooriumil kauem kui 90 päeva.
 ARTIKKEL 5
 Territoriaalne kohaldatavus
 1.
 Käesolevat lepingut kohaldatakse Prantsuse Vabariigi puhul ainult Prantsuse Vabariigi Euroopas paikneva territooriumi suhtes.
 2.
 Käesolevat lepingut kohaldatakse Madalmaade Kuningriigi puhul ainult Madalmaade Kuningriigi Euroopas paikneva territooriumi suhtes.
 ARTIKKEL 6
 Lepingu haldamise ühiskomitee
 1.
 Lepinguosalised moodustavad ekspertide ühiskomitee (edaspidi „komitee”), mis koosneb liidu esindajatest ja Tonga esindajatest. Liitu esindab Euroopa Komisjon.
 2.
 Komitee ülesanded on muu hulgas järgmised:
 a)
 teostada järelevalvet käesoleva lepingu rakendamise üle;
 b)
 esitada ettepanekuid käesoleva lepingu muutmiseks või täiendamiseks;
 c)
 lahendada käesoleva lepingu tõlgendamise või kohaldamise üle tekkivaid vaidlusi.
 3.
 Komitee tuleb vajaduse korral kokku ühe lepinguosalise taotlusel.
 4.
 Komitee kehtestab oma töökorra.
 ARTIKKEL 7
 Seos käesoleva lepingu ning liikmesriikide ja Tonga vaheliste olemasolevate kahepoolsete viisanõudest loobumist käsitlevate lepingute vahel
 Käesolev leping on ülimuslik liikmesriikide ja Tonga vahel sõlmitud selliste kahepoolsete lepingute või kokkulepete suhtes, mis hõlmavad käesoleva lepingu kohaldamisalasse jäävaid küsimusi.
 ARTIKKEL 8
 Lõppsätted
 1.
 Lepinguosalised ratifitseerivad või kiidavad käesoleva lepingu heaks vastavalt oma sisemenetlustele ning leping jõustub teise kuu esimesel päeval pärast viimase sellise teate saamise kuupäeva, millega lepinguosalised teineteisele teatavad, et kõnealused menetlused on lõpule viidud.
 Käesolevat lepingut kohaldatakse ajutiselt alates selle allkirjastamise kuupäevale järgnevast kuupäevast.
 2.
 Käesolev leping sõlmitakse määramata ajaks, välja arvatud juhul, kui see lõpetatakse lõike 5 kohaselt.
 3.
 Käesolevat lepingut võib muuta lepinguosaliste kirjalikul kokkuleppel. Muudatused jõustuvad pärast seda, kui lepinguosalised on teineteisele teatanud selleks vajalike sisemenetluste lõpuleviimisest.
 4.
 Lepinguosalised võivad lepingu täitmise täielikult või osaliselt peatada eelkõige avaliku korra, riigi julgeoleku või rahvatervise kaitse huvides, samuti ebaseadusliku sisserände tõttu või juhul, kui üks lepinguosaline kehtestab uuesti viisanõude. Lepingu täitmise peatamise otsusest teatatakse teisele lepinguosalisele hiljemalt kaks kuud enne selle kavandatud jõustumist. Käesoleva lepingu täitmise peatanud lepinguosaline teatab viivitamata teisele lepinguosalisele, kui käesoleva lepingu täitmise peatamise põhjused on kõrvaldatud, ja lõpetab lepingu täitmise peatamise.
 5.
 Kumbki lepinguosaline võib käesoleva lepingu lõpetada, teatades sellest kirjalikult teisele lepinguosalisele. Käesolev leping kaotab kehtivuse 90. päeval pärast teatamise kuupäeva.
 6.
 Tonga võib käesoleva lepingu täitmise peatada või lepingu lõpetada ainult kõigi liikmesriikide suhtes korraga.
 7.
 Liit võib käesoleva lepingu täitmise peatada või lepingu lõpetada ainult kõigi oma liikmesriikide nimel.
 Koostatud kahes eksemplaris bulgaaria, eesti, hispaania, hollandi, horvaatia, inglise, itaalia, kreeka, leedu, läti, malta, poola, portugali, prantsuse, rootsi, rumeenia, saksa, slovaki, sloveeni, soome, taani, tšehhi ja ungari keeles, kusjuures kõik tekstid on võrdselt autentsed.
 ÜHISDEKLARATSIOON ISLANDI, NORRA, ŠVEITSI JA LIECHTENSTEINI KOHTA
 Lepinguosalised võtavad arvesse Euroopa Liidu ning Norra, Islandi, Šveitsi ja Liechtensteini vahelisi tihedaid suhteid, mis tulenevad eelkõige 18. mai 1999. aasta ja 26. oktoobri 2004. aasta lepingutest, mis käsitlevad nende riikide ühinemist Schengeni acquis' rakendamise, kohaldamise ja edasiarendamisega.
 Seepärast on soovitav, et ühelt poolt Norra, Islandi, Šveitsi ja Liechtensteini ning teiselt poolt Tonga ametiasutused sõlmiksid viivitamatult lühiajalise viisa nõudest loobumist käsitlevad kahepoolsed lepingud käesoleva lepingu tingimustega sarnastel tingimustel.
 ÜHISDEKLARATSIOON, MILLES TÕLGENDATAKSE KÄESOLEVA LEPINGU ARTIKLI 3 LÕIKES 2 KÄSITLETAVAT TASUSTATAVA TÖÖ EESMÄRGIL REISIVATE ISIKUTE KATEGOORIAT
 Lepinguosalised lepivad ühtse tõlgenduse tagamiseks kokku, et käesoleva lepingu kohaldamisel hõlmab tasustatavat tööd tegevate isikute kategooria selliseid isikuid, kes sisenevad teise lepinguosalise territooriumile tasustatava töö tegemise või tulutoova tegevusega tegelemise eesmärgil töövõtja või teenuse osutajana.
 Kõnealune kategooria ei hõlma:
 –
 äritegevusega tegelevaid isikuid, s.t isikuid, kes reisivad ärikohtumise eesmärgil (ega tööta teise lepinguosalise territooriumil);
 –
 sportlasi või kunstnikke, kes tegutsevad riigis ajutiselt;
 –
 ajakirjanikke, kelle on saatnud nende elukohariigi meedia, ning
 –
 äriühingusiseseid praktikante.
 Käesoleva deklaratsiooni rakendamise üle teostab lepingu artiklis 6 sätestatud vastutuse raames järelevalvet ühiskomitee, kes võib teha muudatusettepanekuid, kui ta peab seda lepinguosaliste kogemuste põhjal vajalikuks.
 ÜHISDEKLARATSIOON, MILLES TÕLGENDATAKSE KÄESOLEVA LEPINGU ARTIKLIS 4 SÄTESTATUD 90-PÄEVAST VIIBIMISE KESTUST MIS TAHES 180-PÄEVASE AJAVAHEMIKU JOOKSUL
 Lepinguosalised lepivad kokku, et käesoleva lepingu artiklis 4 sätestatud kuni 90-päevane kestus mis tahes 180-päevase ajavahemiku jooksul tähendab kas üht katkematut külastust või mitut järjestikust külastust, mille kestus ei ületa 90 päeva mis tahes 180-päevase ajavahemiku jooksul.
 Väljend „mis tahes” osutab sellele, et kohaldatakse liikuvat 180-päevast võrdlusperioodi, võttes arvesse kõik liikmesriikide territooriumil viibimise päevad viimase 180-päevase ajavahemiku jooksul, et kontrollida, kas nõue, mille kohaselt on liikmesriikide territooriumil lubatud viibida 90 päeva 180-päevase ajavahemiku jooksul, on jätkuvalt täidetud. See tähendab muu hulgas, et kui liikmesriikide territooriumil ei ole viibitud katkematu 90-päevase ajavahemiku jooksul, on lubatud uus kuni 90-päevane viibimine.
 ÜHISDEKLARATSIOON KODANIKE VIISANÕUDEST LOOBUMISE LEPINGUST TEAVITAMISE KOHTA
 Teadvustades läbipaistvuse olulisust Euroopa Liidu ja Tonga kodanike jaoks, kohustuvad lepinguosalised tagama viisanõudest loobumise lepingu sisu ja tagajärgi käsitleva ning muu asjakohase teabe, näiteks territooriumile sisenemise tingimuste laialdase levitamise.
 _________________
 (1)
 ELT L 149, 20.5.2014, lk 67
 (2)
 Nõukogu määrus (EÜ) nr 539/2001, 15. märts 2001, milles loetletakse kolmandad riigid, kelle kodanikel peab välispiiride ületamisel olema viisa, ja need kolmandad riigid, kelle kodanikud on sellest nõudest vabastatud (EÜT L 81, 21.3.2001, lk 1).


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