The bill amends the existing law regarding the audit and examination of state funds and related entities in Michigan. It introduces new provisions that allow individuals employed in the news industry, such as journalists and news analysts, to report any knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse, misappropriation, or misuse of state funds to the office of the auditor general. The auditor general is required to review these reports within six months and has the discretion to investigate, audit, or disregard the reports based on specific criteria. If a report is disregarded, the auditor general must notify the attorney general and may refer the report to the appropriate state entity for further investigation.

Additionally, the bill establishes a reward system for individuals who report successful recoveries of state funds resulting from their disclosures. If the attorney general or another state entity takes action based on the report and recovers funds, the individual who submitted the report is entitled to at least 15% of the recovered amount, contingent on their contribution to the recovery. The bill also outlines definitions for terms such as "abuse," "fraud," "misappropriation," and "waste," providing clarity on the types of misconduct that can be reported. Overall, the bill aims to enhance accountability and encourage reporting of financial misconduct involving state resources.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 13.101