STATE OF CONNECTICUT
NANCY WYMAN COMPTROLLER	OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER 55 ELM STREET HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1775	MARK OJAKIAN DEPUTY COMPTROLLER

MEMORANDUM NO. 96-02

January 5, 1996

TO THE HEADS OF ALL STATE AGENCIES

1. AUTHORITY

   Sections 3-112 "Powers and duties" and 3-117 "Claims against the state" of the Connecticut General Statutes prescribe that upon the settlement of any claim against the state, under procedures adopted by the comptroller, the comptroller will draw an order on the treasurer for its payment.

2. PURPOSE

   Establish procedures for checks returned to an agency.

3. AGENCY RESPONSIBILITY
   1. Paperless Processing Agencies:

      The audit release Special Code "14" is restricted to checks returned to agencies which require special handling. Special Code "14" is authorized for the following payments:

      1. Checks that require additional documentation for vendors to reconcile their payments. (i.e. Remittance Statement (CO-894), Subscription Order (CO-780), Utility Charges, etc.).
      2. An agency must obtain a release before transferring the check to the vendor. (i.e. Condemnation of Property, Real Estate Purchase, Litigation involving the Office of The Attorney General, etc.)
      3. Checks mailed to foreign countries.

      Special Code "14" should not be used for Petty Cash (PC), Employee Voucher (XP), and Prepayment (PP) invoices. Document type PC, XP, and PP automatically default to Special Code "34" which are returned to the processing agency.

      Because proper internal accounting controls normally require the immediate mailing of checks, Special Code "14" will be closely monitored through the post audit process.

   2. Paper Processing Agencies:

      Special Code "99" must be used by paper processing agencies to identify those checks required to be returned to the agency as authorized in section III A. 1, 2, and 3 above.

      These types of claims should be combined when processing expenditure batches with "99" marked in the upper right hand corner of the Expenditure Batch Header (CO-19).

      Because proper internal accounting controls normally require the immediate mailing of checks, Special Code "99" will be closely monitored through the post audit process.

   3. Mailing of Checks Returned To An Agency:

      It is the agency's responsibility in all instances to mail checks timely to their vendors. A check should be mailed within ten [10] working days from the check issue date.

      No check is to be held by an agency pending completion of the vendors contractual obligation.

4. REPORTING OF POST-AUDIT FINDINGS

   The Accounts Payable Division will follow-up on all conditions found. Non-compliance by a State agency may cause this Office to revert the agency's processing of all expenditure documents to a pre-audit procedure, possibly slowing the issuance of checks to your vendors.

   A compliance review at the agency's site will be conducted for serious or repeat offenses. This review will assess the materiality of weaknesses in the agency's internal control structure and the extent of compliance infractions.

5. CONCLUSION

   Our office is committed to safeguarding State funds and expediting the processing of all vendor claims. This change in the handling of vendor checks returned to an agency requires constant monitoring.

6. QUESTIONS

   Any questions or concerns regarding this memorandum or the change in procedure may be directed to the Accounts Payable Division at 566-8978 or 566-3895.

NANCY WYMAN
STATE COMPTROLLER

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