Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to establish a Commission on Government Efficiency and Ethics in Minnesota. This commission will investigate allegations of fraud in state programs and undisclosed legislative conflicts of interest.

Main Provisions

• Creation of Commission: A new Commission on Government Efficiency and Ethics is established to handle investigations regarding fraud in state government and conflicts of interest within the legislature.
• Commission Membership: The commission will have six members—three appointed by the Speaker of the House and three by the House Minority Leader. These appointees must be approved jointly by the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders and cannot be current or former partisan candidates or elected officials.
• Terms & Reporting: Members will serve two-year terms, with no term limits. A website and hotline will be maintained for anonymous reporting of suspected fraud or conflicts of interest, and reporters may receive rewards if their reports lead to convictions or legislative expulsions.
• Investigations and Audits: The commission can order investigations conducted by private investigators, and full forensic audits of state agencies or grantees. All public entities must comply with these investigations.
• Reports: The commission is required to report credible findings of fraud to law enforcement and relevant legislative committees and submit annual recommendations to prevent fraud and conflicts of interest.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends existing Minnesota Statutes to include audit clauses in grant agreements, making records subject to review by the commission's private investigators.
• New legal coding in Minnesota Statutes will be established to support the operations of the commission and outline its processes.
• Specifies the financial provision for the commission for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Relevant Terms

• Government Efficiency
• Ethics Commission
• Fraud Investigation
• Legislative Conflicts of Interest
• Forensic Audit
• Private Investigators
• Transparency