April 2000

Not-for-Profit Committee Meets with State Mental Health Representatives

On March 1, representatives from the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) and Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) met with the NYSSCPA Not-for-Profit Organizations Committee to discuss consolidated fiscal report (CFR) issues.

Ann Cappozoli and Carlene Coons of OMRDD and Don Berryann and Katherine Katz of OMH talked about current developments and ongoing plans for state-funded agencies to transition toward electronic filings using a new system.

"We always appreciate the opportunity to work with our partners at the Society," said Berryann, the OMH's CFR Unit manager. "This continues to be a mutually beneficial relationship as we try to keep CFR reporting requirements in sync with the current accounting standards. The confidence level provided by the signature of the CPA on the CFR is much higher thanks to this partnership, and we look forward to continuing this relationship."

Committee Chair Michael L. McNee said that the presentation, which qualifies for CPE credit, furthered the committee's goals to build and maintain an ongoing dialogue between funding agencies, the nonprofit community, and the accounting professionals who serve them.

"It's important to continue these meetings," McNee said. "Not only do we want to meet our Society's educational needs and expectations, but we make the state agencies aware that this is an important group of people for them to communicate with on matters relating to auditors' and preparers' work."

The CFR presentation was the most recent of the committee's ongoing CPE series. In February, Laurel Jolliffe and John Buyce of the state comptroller's office spoke on the State Assistance for Financial Effectiveness ($AFE) program, which provides free financial management planning services for nonprofit organizations statewide. In December, tax attorney Hill Gallagher spoke on retirement planning for nonprofit executives. On April 25, William Josephson, bureau chief of the New York State Charities Bureau, will speak at a joint meeting of the Not-for-Profit Organizations and Exempt Organizations Committees. *