The proposed bill establishes an Office of Inspector General within the Minnesota legislative branch to investigate and prevent fraud, misuse, and unlawful use of public funds. The inspector general will be appointed by the Legislative Audit Commission for a six-year term and will operate independently while reporting to the commission. The bill outlines the inspector general's powers, including conducting investigations, recommending sanctions against recipients of state funds, and enhancing oversight of state grantmaking. It also includes provisions to protect whistleblowers from retaliation and mandates cooperation from public officials during investigations. The legislation aims to enhance accountability and transparency in public fund management.

Additionally, the bill amends existing Minnesota statutes to consolidate investigative powers previously held by the Offices of Inspector General in various departments, transferring all active investigations and resources to the new Office of Inspector General. It expands the list of entities authorized to access confidential data for investigations and streamlines the process for data access and privacy. The bill establishes procedures for imposing sanctions on program participants found to have committed fraud, waste, or abuse, and includes protections for confidentiality and whistleblower rights. Overall, the legislation seeks to strengthen the integrity of public funds management in Minnesota by enhancing oversight and accountability mechanisms.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 3.97, 3.971, 609.456, 3.855, 16B.97, 16B.98, 16B.991, 142B.53, 245A.24, 268.19, 268B.30