General Assembly Raised Bill No. 462 proposes the establishment of the Office of Government Oversight, set to commence operations on October 1, 2026. This office will be tasked with detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse in state management, evaluating the efficiency of governmental agencies and their contractors. An executive director, appointed by the Auditors of Public Accounts with the General Assembly's consent, will lead the office, which will operate independently but be administratively housed within the Joint Committee on Legislative Management. The bill introduces new provisions for the office's establishment and operation while deleting any conflicting language from existing statutes. Key responsibilities of the executive director include conducting investigations, accessing records, and making recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly.

The bill also amends existing laws to enhance oversight and whistleblower protections within state agencies. It designates the executive director as a recipient of reports concerning violations of the Code of Ethics for Public Officials and protects public officials who disclose information about crimes from pension penalties if they report before being aware of an investigation. Additionally, it mandates that state agencies notify the executive director of any unauthorized fund handling and requires foundations to collaborate with the office on corruption investigations. The bill establishes protections against retaliation for employees who report violations, introduces civil penalties for contractors who retaliate, and allows for civil actions against them. Overall, Raised Bill No. 462 aims to improve accountability and transparency in state governance while safeguarding whistleblowers.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 1-101pp, 4-33a, 4-37j, 4-61dd
GAE Joint Favorable: 1-101pp, 4-33a, 4-37j, 4-61dd
File No. 569: 1-101pp, 4-33a, 4-37j, 4-61dd
APP Joint Favorable: 1-101pp, 4-33a, 4-37j, 4-61dd