The proposed bill establishes the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in Minnesota, an independent entity within the executive branch aimed at enhancing accountability, transparency, and integrity in state agencies and programs. The Inspector General will be appointed by the governor based on recommendations from the Legislative Inspector General Advisory Commission and can only be removed for cause after a public hearing. The OIG will have the authority to conduct investigations, evaluate agency performance, and publish reports, with a specific focus on investigating fraud related to public assistance programs, including those for women, infants, and children (WIC) and food support programs. The bill also creates the Office of the Inspector General Anti-Fraud and Waste Bureau, which will have law enforcement powers and the ability to conduct statewide investigations.

Additionally, the bill amends various sections of Minnesota Statutes to incorporate the new office and its functions, including definitions related to fraud and misuse, and outlines the powers and responsibilities of the Inspector General. It mandates that the OIG refer credible reports of fraud to the legislative auditor and the commissioner of human services, and emphasizes the importance of transparency by requiring state departments and nonprofit organizations to highlight fraud reporting tools on their websites. The effective date for these changes is set for January 1, 2027, or upon federal approval, whichever is later. The bill also includes provisions for the transition of employees from existing offices to the new OIG, ensuring job classifications remain unchanged, and outlines the funding appropriations necessary for the establishment and operation of the office.

Statutes affected:
1st Engrossment: 3.971, 15A.0815
2nd Engrossment: 3.971, 15A.0815
3rd Engrossment: 3.971, 15A.0815
4th Engrossment: 3.971, 15A.0815, 142A.03, 256.01
5th Engrossment: 3.971, 15A.0815, 142A.03, 142A.12, 144.05, 245.095, 256.01
6th Engrossment: 3.971, 15A.0815, 142A.03, 142A.12, 144.05, 245.095, 256.01
7th Engrossment: 3.971, 15A.0815, 142A.03, 142A.12, 144.05, 245.095, 256.01
8th Engrossment: 3.971, 15A.0815, 609.456, 142A.03, 142A.12, 144.05, 245.095, 256.01
9th Engrossment: 3.971, 15A.0815, 609.456, 142A.03, 142A.12, 144.05, 245.095, 256.01
10th Engrossment: 3.971, 15A.0815, 609.456, 13.82, 127A.21, 142A.03, 142A.12, 144.05, 181.932, 245.095, 256.01, 626.84
1st Unofficial Engrossment: 3.971, 15A.0815, 609.456, 127A.21, 142A.03, 142A.12, 144.05, 245.095, 256.01