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![handle is hein.gao/gaobadmld0001 and id is 1 raw text is: YVVOJ 0tA
THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL
OECISION e OF THE UNITEO STATES
o .41 WASHINGTON. D.C. 20548
FILE: B-221191 DATE: August 18, 1986
MATTER OF: Continuing Education Credits to Attendees of
HUD's Real Estate Seminars
DIGEST: GAO will not question HUD's use of appropriated
funds to obtain a certificate of authority to grant
continuing education credits to attendees of semi-
nars HUD conducts, provided HUD administratively
determines such expenditure constitutes a necessary
expense.
The Director of the Office of Finance and Accounting,
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requests an
advance decision as to whether HUD may pay the State of
California $500 for a certificate authorizing HUD to grant
continuing education credits incident to certain seminars it
conducts. Consistent with our discussion below, we will not
question the proposed expenditure.
Recently, HUD officials in California have conducted
training seminars for real estate professionals on the subject
of HUD's programs and procedures. In order to increase atten-
dance at these seminars, HUD wishes to apply to the State of
California for authority to grant continuing education credits
to attendees. The credits could be used to meet California's
real estate licensing requirements. California's 2-year cer-
tificate of authority to grant such credits would cost HUD
$500.
HUD officials ask whether the proposed expenditure may
properly be made from HUD's appropriated funds. They acknowl-
edge that since the seminar is designed for real estate pro-
fessionals, HUD would essentially be spending appropriated
funds in order to confer a private benefit on select non-
Government employees, i.e., those who attend the seminars.
Nonetheless, HUD officials suggest that granting the credits
would not only increase attendance [at the seminars], but
would increase business for HUD programs and disseminate more
current information into the real estate field which would
assist HUD in carrying out its mission.
The letter of request from HUD's Office of Finance and
Accounting does not identify any specific source of authority
under which the training seminars are conducted. Accordingly,](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobadmld0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)