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SF1772 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Policy related to the legislative auditor modification

Related bill: HF1240

AI Generated Summary

This Minnesota Senate bill (S.F. No. 1772) modifies policies related to the Legislative Auditor by amending various sections of state law. The key changes include:

  1. Expansion of the Legislative Auditor’s Structure:

    • Establishes a new Special Reviews Division in addition to the already existing Financial Audits Division and Program Evaluation Division.
    • Allows each division to be supervised by a Deputy Auditor, whose appointments require legislative approval.
    • Requires the Deputy Auditor for the Financial Audit Division to hold an active CPA license.

  2. Prohibition on Partisan Candidacy:

    • Prevents Legislative Auditor employees from running for partisan elected office while employed.

  3. Enhanced Special Review Powers:

    • Expands the scope of special reviews to include investigating compliance with legal requirements, reviewing organizations or programs at the legislature's request, and following up on past reviews.

  4. Notification Requirements for Public Officials:

    • Mandates that certain obligated officers (executive, financial, and IT leaders) report misuse of public funds or unauthorized data access to the Legislative Auditor.
    • Defines "obligated officers" with a detailed list of leadership positions.

  5. Increased Access to State Data:

    • Requires public officials and employees to cooperate with audits and provide data upon request.
    • Authorizes the Legislative Auditor to access state-maintained information systems without prior notification or approval from the affected entity.

  6. Classification of Legislative Audit Data:

    • Allows the Legislative Auditor to classify data provided by legislators or staff as private or nonpublic.

  7. State Agency Reporting Requirement:

    • Requires state agencies to direct concerns about the misuse of public money or data to the obligated officers or the Legislative Auditor.
    • Directs the Commissioner of Management and Budget to establish a standard policy for reporting misuse across state agencies.

  8. Repeal of Existing Statute (16B.45):

    • Eliminates the Legislative Auditor’s previous role in evaluating the performance of IT systems and computerization efforts in state agencies, universities, and metropolitan boards.

Overall, this bill strengthens the oversight authority of the Legislative Auditor, improves state accountability measures, and establishes stricter reporting requirements for public officials regarding potential financial or data-related misconduct.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 23, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
February 23, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
February 23, 2025HouseFloorActionReferred toState and Local Government
February 23, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toState and Local Government

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarifies roles and responsibilities of the legislative auditor's staff."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill modifies policy related to the legislative auditor under section 3.971 subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Updates staff compensation and removal procedures."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "3.971",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Procedures for follow-up on prior special reviews."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill allows for modifications in conducting special reviews by the legislative auditor under section 3.971 subdivision 8a.",
      "modified": [
        "Updates investigation criteria for legislative audits."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "3.971",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 8a"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarifies definition of obligated officers."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill modifies the obligation to notify the legislative auditor about the misuse of public resources under section 3.971 subdivision 9.",
      "modified": [
        "Defines specific roles and responsibilities for notification."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "3.971",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 9"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill updates the inquiry and inspection powers of the legislative auditor under section 3.978 subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies duty to cooperate with the legislative auditor."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "3.978",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Allows classification of data as private or nonpublic."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill adds provisions for legislative data classification by the legislative auditor under section 3.979 subdivision 7.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "3.979",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 7"
  }
]

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