General Assembly Raised Bill No. 462 establishes the Office of Government Oversight, set to begin operations on October 1, 2026. This office will focus on detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse in state management, with an executive director appointed by the Auditors of Public Accounts and confirmed by the General Assembly. The director will coordinate with internal auditors, conduct investigations, and provide recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly. The bill also introduces confidentiality provisions, ensuring that records related to investigations remain undisclosed until all actions are concluded, and mandates that state agency heads report suspected violations of the Code of Ethics to both the Office of State Ethics and the new office.

Additionally, the bill modifies existing laws to enhance accountability and protections for whistleblowers. It replaces references to the "Auditors of Public Accounts" with the "executive director of the Office of Government Oversight," shifting the responsibility for handling complaints about misconduct to this new office. The bill also establishes a process for addressing personnel actions against employees, allowing for hearings and decisions by a human rights referee, and creates a rebuttable presumption of retaliation for actions taken within two years of an employee's disclosure of misconduct. Overall, Raised Bill No. 462 aims to improve transparency and accountability in state operations while safeguarding whistleblowers and streamlining complaint processes.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 1-101pp, 4-33a, 4-37j, 4-61dd