IV. Program Payment Issues

This Rulemaking initially proposed a payment process and schedule consistent with the approach the Commission took in D.01-09-064. Even though we did not receive any comments on this proposal, two events occurred subsequent to the release of the rulemaking. One, on May 22, 2003, the Commission adopted Resolution T-16472 approving California Communications Access Foundation (CCAF) as an independent contractor to operate and manage DDTP programs for the period of June 16, 2003 through June 30, 2005. Pursuant to the contract, CCAF is responsible for reviewing invoices and recommending the reviewed invoices to the Commission for payment. Two, on April 22, 2003, the Department of Finance issued a letter to the Commission recommending that payments for funds created under Public Utilities Code Section 274 et seq. be submitted to the State Controller's Office (SCO) through the normal claim schedule process. Payments by office revolving fund (ORF) should follow Government Code (GC) § 16401, which identifies permissible ORF payments as:

· Payment of compensation earned;

· Traveling expenses;

· Traveling expense advances; and

· Where immediate payment is otherwise necessary.

In order to comply with the provisions of the GC and the State Administrative Manual (SAM), TD or its successor will issue payment letters in accordance with the payment schedule shown in Appendix B of this decision. This decision also authorizes the Commission's Executive Director to revise the payment schedule adopted here as needs may arise, provided that the revision(s) is/are consistent with the provisions of the GC and the SAM.