Minneslate Logo

HF1 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Office of Inspector General established, powers and duties provided, enhanced grant oversight provided, retaliation prohibited, existing executive Offices of Inspector General transferred or repealed, fraud detection and prevention provided, conforming changes made, reports required, and money appropriated.

Related bill: SF1219

AI Generated Summary

This legislative bill proposes the establishment of an Office of the Inspector General within the legislative branch of the state government in Minnesota. The primary goal of this office would be to investigate and eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse in state programs. The Inspector General will be appointed by the Legislative Audit Commission for a six-year term and will have the authority to initiate independent investigations. The bill outlines various powers and duties of the Inspector General, including overseeing staff, embedding assistant inspectors in various state departments, operating a fraud reporting hotline, and the authority to require cooperation from state agencies and access to their data.

Additionally, the bill specifies that the Inspector General can issue subpoenas, take testimonies, withhold payments to entities suspected of fraud, and recommend actions to address deficiencies in state operations. The Office of the Inspector General is expected to cooperate with law enforcement and other entities to investigate and prosecute fraudulent activities.

The bill also introduces measures to ensure the protection of individuals who report suspected fraud and prohibits the obstruction of investigations. Funding allocations for the implementation of this office are specified for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Finally, the bill mandates the discontinuation of existing inspector general offices within individual state departments, centralizing the oversight and investigative functions within the newly created Office of the Inspector General to streamline operations and enhance accountability in state government activities.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 05, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toState Government Finance and Policy
February 09, 2025HouseFloorActionAuthors added
February 12, 2025HouseFloorActionAuthors added
February 16, 2025HouseFloorActionAuthor added
February 18, 2025HouseFloorActionCommittee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer toHuman Services Finance and Policy
February 19, 2025HouseFloorActionAuthor added
February 23, 2025HouseFloorActionCommittee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer toEducation Finance
February 25, 2025HouseFloorActionCommittee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer toJudiciary Finance and Civil Law
March 02, 2025HouseFloorActionCommittee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer toChildren and Families Finance and Policy
March 04, 2025HouseFloorActionCommittee report, to adopt and re-refer toState Government Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "New provisions for the appointment and oversight of the state inspector general."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amends section 3.97 by adding new subdivisions relating to the appointment and oversight of the state inspector general and its complementary role to the legislative auditor.",
      "modified": [
        "Subdivision 1 to include provisions for fraud, waste, and abuse in public programs."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "3.97"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Modifies section 3.971, subdivision 1 regarding the appointment and term of the legislative auditor.",
      "modified": [
        "Details on the appointment and term conditions for the legislative auditor."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "3.971"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Requirement to notify and coordinate with the inspector general upon notification of unlawful use of public money or data access."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Modifies section 3.971, subdivision 9 to include additional obligations for notification related to unlawful use of public resources and data access.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "3.971"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Requirement to report suspected fraud to the Department of Children, Youth and Families Office of the Inspector General."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amends section 142B.53 to mandate reporting of suspected fraud to specific investigators.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "142B.53"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Requirement to report suspected fraud to the Department of Human Services Office of the Inspector General."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amends section 245A.24 to include reporting suspected fraud to the Department of Human Services Office of the Inspector General.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "245A.24"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Permission to share data with the Department of Human Services Office of the Inspector General for investigations related to fraud."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amends section 268.19 subdivision 1 to allow dissemination of data to the Department of Human Services Office of the Inspector General for investigations.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "268.19"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Specific consent requirements for accessing private data related to qualifying agencies and programs."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amends section 268B.30 to make data collected, created, or maintained confidential and to establish conditions for data sharing.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "268B.30"
  }
]

Sponsors