County Compliance Program

This site provides information about our commitment to conduct the business of local County government in accordance with all applicable Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations, and to adhere to the highest ethical standards. Our County Compliance Program serves to:

• Monitor developments and changes in Local, State, and Federal laws and regulations, as these relate to waste, fraud, and abuse;
• Facilitate communication among County departments on compliance issues, including outreach and training;
• Review, revise, and recommend County policies and procedures as needed;
• Coordinate, facilitate, and monitor compliance efforts County-wide;
• Develop internal controls, including assisting department heads and managers with establishing compliance procedures specific to their operations, and conduct reviews to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and
• Administer the Confidential Compliance & Breach HelpLine for reporting compliance violations, illegal or unethical conduct, or a known or suspected breach of secured private or protected health information.

For further information regarding the Compliance Program please explore this site or contact:

Charlene Holmes, Chief Equity & Diversity Officer or
Jessi Schmeiske, Risk & Compliance Administrator
Department of County Administration
125 East Court Street, 3rd Floor
Ithaca, NY 14850
Email

Reporting Compliance Violations, Discrimination, or Information Security Breaches

Any County employee or private citizen may use the Confidential Compliance & Breach HelpLine (1-877-348-1396) to report allegations of illegal or unethical conduct involving County employees or appointed or elected officials. This includes reporting evidence of known or suspected misconduct, including legal violations, misuse of resources, improper gifts or kickbacks, financial fraud, acts of retaliation, safety concerns, or intentional violation of County policy and procedures.

If you believe that you have been excluded from, denied the benefits of, or been subjected to discrimination in any program, service, or activity administered by Tompkins County, you have the right to file a complaint within 180 days of the incident.

How to File a Complaint

How to File a Complaint

You may also submit a written report concerning non-compliance, discrimination or acts of waste, fraud, or abuse, to the County Compliance Officer:

Charlene Holmes, Chief Equity & Diversity Officer
Department of County Administration
125 East Court Street, 3rd Floor
Ithaca, NY 14850

Information Security Breach

Tompkins County is committed to safeguarding Personal Health Information (PHI) and all other forms of Personal Information (PI). In compliance with Federal regulations, the County has adopted a Breach Incident Procedure. Any County employee or private citizen can use the Confidential Compliance & Breach HelpLine to report a known or suspected breach of confidential or private information. A report may also be submitted via the Breach Incident Investigation Form.

Complaint Process

Tompkins County Employee Complaint Process Flowchart(PDF, 129KB)

Compliance Fact Sheet Series

Want to stay abreast of updates to the County Compliance Program? Are you looking for compliance program information to share with employees, colleagues, or contractors/vendors? Our Fact Sheet series serve as a quick reference to compliance-related information.

Tompkins County Compliance Fact Sheet Series

For a complete listing of the Policies and Procedures of Tompkins County Government, please see the Tompkins County Administrative Policy Manual.