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HF2397 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Commissioner of administration required to provide a central point of contact for comments about the misuse of other unlawful uses of funds in state grant programs.

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The proposed legislation aims to improve oversight and management of state government grant programs in Minnesota. It intends to address issues related to the misuse and illegal use of funds in these programs.

Main Provisions

  • Central Contact Point: The bill requires the commissioner of administration to establish a central point of contact for reporting misuse, fraud, or other unlawful activities concerning grant funds in state programs.

  • Grant Management Policies: The commissioner is tasked with creating standard grant management policies and procedures applicable to all executive agencies. These policies can receive exceptions, but such exceptions need renewal every five years.

  • Resource for Agencies: The commissioner will also serve as a resource for executive agencies by offering training, evaluation, and collaboration opportunities, as well as promoting best practices in grant management.

  • Technological Integration: The bill mandates consideration of grants management needs in the development and upgrade of statewide administrative systems, promoting the use of existing technology.

  • Contract Oversight: The commissioner will oversee and approve future professional and technical service contracts related to grants management systems.

  • Forwarding Reports: The commissioner will forward any received reports of misconduct to the appropriate executive agency for further action and follow-up if necessary.

  • Grant Opportunity Listings: A single listing of all available competitive grant opportunities and their recipients will be maintained.

  • Periodical Reviews: The commissioner will selectively review agency grant policies, practices, and compliance with best practices.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill amends current statutes to explicitly define the role of the commissioner in handling reports of unapproved activities related to grant funds and to centralize the contact point for these reports. It formalizes the process for handling exceptions to grant management policies, aiming for greater accountability and standardization across executive agencies.

Relevant Terms

  • State government, grant programs, misuse, unlawful use, commissioner of administration, executive agencies, grants management, fraud, waste, compliance, best practices, technology systems, competitive grant opportunities.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 16, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toState Government Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "A new duty requiring the commissioner to provide a central contact point for comments on misuse of funds."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This bill modifies the role of the commissioner in managing state grant funds under section 16B.97.",
      "modified": [
        "Expands responsibilities in overseeing professional and technical service contracts related to grants."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "16B.97",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 4"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This section outlines the governance of shared grants management technology systems.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarification on the governance of grants management technology systems."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "16E.01",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  }
]

Sponsors