Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to establish an Office of the Inspector General in Minnesota. This new office will ensure accountability, transparency, and integrity within state agencies and programs. It will operate as an independent entity to investigate and report on potential fraud or misuse of public resources.

Main Provisions

• Creation of the Office of the Inspector General: This new office will function independently from executive branch agencies, directly reporting to the chief administrative law judge.
• Public Reporting of Fraud and Misuse: The legislative auditor must refer all reports regarding potential fraud or misuse from the public to the Inspector General. This ensures a coordinated approach to investigating and addressing these issues.
• Coordination of Investigations: The Inspector General can work together with the legislative auditor to maximize resource use without hindering their respective investigations.
• Agency Head Salaries: The bill mandates that the salaries of agency heads, including the new Inspector General, be determined by the Compensation Council and published online.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Transfer of Duties: Certain responsibilities and powers related to investigating fraud and misuse are transferred to the new Inspector General's Office.
• Repeal of Current Statutes: The bill proposes repealing specific sections of the existing Minnesota Statutes, which may include outdated provisions related to fraud reporting and investigation processes.

Relevant Terms

Inspector General, fraud, misuse, state agencies, transparency, accountability, legislative auditor, chief administrative law judge, independent entity, public reports, coordination, agency head salaries, executive branch.