Section 434.6  Exit Conferences  

All entities that undergo a Department audit, review or investigation shall be given the opportunity for an exit conference and an administrative hearing of the Department's findings and recommendations.  The requirements for requesting a review of the findings and recommendations are as follows:

a)         After receipt of the draft report or desk review report, the entity may request an exit conference.  The request for an exit conference must be received within 15 business days after receipt of the draft report or desk review report.  The request must be sent to the Department's Office of Financial Review and must explain which findings and recommendations the entity does not understand or does not agree with.

1)         The exit conference shall be scheduled within 15 business days after the request and shall be a general discussion between the agency representatives and the auditors who performed the fieldwork or desk review. Proposed responses to the draft report or desk review may be presented at the time of the discussion.

2)         When an exit conference is held, the final report shall contain a brief narrative regarding the date that the conference was held; the names of the persons attending; the topics discussed; and any mutually agreed changes to the draft or report that were decided upon during the exit conference.

b)         If the entity disagrees with the audit findings, it may request an administrative hearing regarding the findings and recommendations.  A request for an administrative hearing must be received in writing within 15 business days after the conclusion of the exit conference and shall be directed to the administrator of the Administrative Hearings Unit with a copy forwarded to the Office of Financial Review.  A request for an administrative hearing must be accompanied by supporting documents or factual matter that refutes or modifies the Department's draft findings.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 12227, effective August 1, 2024)