TROUBLE CONNECTING:  If you are having trouble connecting to one of the secure, restricted LaPAS functions, do the following:

• Make sure your computer meets all Minimum Requirements.

• Be sure that your Information Technology support staff is aware of LaPAS requirements and connectivity issues and that there are no communications conflicts on your end.

• Perform a simple test to determine if the LaPAS server is down.  Try the public View function.  If the View function does not work, then it is likely that the LaPAS server is down.  Although server problems are not common, they can occur from time to time.

• Check How to Use LaPAS to eliminate the possibility of user error.

• Document the problem by noting any error message(s) and circumstances that cause/result in the problem.

• Call the OPB budget analyst assigned to work with your agency to report the problem.  See Technical Support below for contact information.  

• LaPAS assistance is provided during the hours of 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, from Monday through Friday (holidays excluded).

• Before contacting the OPB about a LaPAS problem or question, see "Common LaPAS User Issues" below and How to Use LaPAS.  You may find the information you need on one of these places.

• To report LaPAS problems or ask a question about LaPAS, contact the OPB budget analyst assigned to your agency.  Call 225-342-7005.

• If you do not know the name of the OPB budget analyst assigned to your agency, go to Staff Assignments to find name and e-mail contact information.

• Please note that you must be able to provide your LaPAS User ID, LaPAS authorization level, assigned agency responsibility, verification of your identity, and documentation of the problem.  Do not call the Division of Administrations Office of Information Services for help.  That Help Desk will refer you to the OPB.

• OPB budget analysts can check to be sure that User IDs, LaPAS authorization level, and assigned agency responsibility are current and correct.  They can reset LaPAS passwords.  They may have institutional knowledge of common user errors or known problems.  However, it sometimes may be necessary to refer a problem to Information Technology service experts.  In some cases, it will be necessary for your technical support person(s) to talk with our technical support person(s)

COMMON LaPAS USER ISSUES:

Password Forgotten

• If you do not remember your LaPAS password, contact your OPB budget analyst for assistance.  OPB analysts do not know your password and cannot tell you your password.  Your password must be reset to a default password.   Upon verification of your User ID, the OPB budget analyst will reset your password to a default.

• Once your password is reset, use your default password and click connect. You will be prompted to enter a new password, which must be at least 6 characters and all lowercase.

• If you enter an incorrect password 3 times within 5 minutes, your LaPAS Log/On ID will be locked.
• To have your LaPAS Log/On ID unlocked, contact your OPB budget analyst for assistance. Upon verification of your User ID, your ID will be unlocked and your password will be reset to a default
• Once your Password is reset, use your LogOn ID for your Password and click connect. You will then be asked to enter a new Password which must be at least 6 characters and all lowercase.

• LaPAS was rewritten in 2001.  The new version has shorter data retrieval times and fewer connectivity problems that the old LaPAS Java Application.  When OPB administrators test response time, we generally experience data retrieval and successful update within seconds. Still, from time to time, the OPB receives user reports of slow response time.

• LaPAS server traffic increases as due dates approach.  You may experience faster response time earlier in the reporting window.  The OPB generally opens LaPAS about a month before the report due date.

• If you are experiencing slow response time, there could be several technical communications issues involvedon your agencys side, on the Division of Administrations side, or on both sides.  (Please remember that we have now entered the mystical realm of servers, bandwidth, firewalls, and security shields.)  Report response time problems to the OPB budget analyst assigned to your agency.  Be ready to describe your slow response time (one minute, five minutes, twenty minutes, and so forth) as well as the circumstances surrounding your experience (frequency of problem, time of day, level at which you are retrieving performance indicator data); information about your Internet service provider, communication capability, and browser; and/or any other observations.  Have the name of your Information Technology expert.  Chances are that this problem will have to be resolved by technical support staff from both your agency and the Division of Administration.

• If your agency failed to file a Performance Progress Report or discovered a reporting error after the reporting period is closed, you may request special access to LaPAS.

• To request special access, you must submit a written request (hard copy or e-mail), describing why you failed to file your report during the reporting period, to your OPB Budget Analyst.  If your agency is given special access, your report will still show that it was submitted during the Closed Period. 

• Performance standards are proposed by agencies but enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.  Performance standards can be modified only by approved August 15^th Performance Standard Adjustment Requests and mid-year budget adjustments (BA-7s). 

• OPB budget analysts populate LaPAS for each reporting year and maintain performance objectives, indicators, and standards during the reporting year.  Agency LaPAS users cannot access the performance standard field in LaPAS.  When the OPB modifies a performance standard in LaPAS, a Y appears in the Performance Standard Revised field. 

• If you have a question or concern about a performance standard and its history, contact the OPB budget analyst assigned to your agency. 

• Do not allow a new user to utilize the ID and password of a LaPAS user who is no longer performing that function.  For security purposes, the LaPAS ID of any user who is not longer performing data entry or agency approval must be terminated. 

• Complete and submit an entry or approval form for the new user.   A LaPAS User ID will be issued for the new user. 

• On the same ID request form indicate the old user ID that is being replaced by the new user ID, so the old user ID can be terminated. 

• To maintain communications with LaPAS users, the OPB must have current contact information.  Use the appropriate form (entry or approval) to provide updated contact information for a current user.