SF1219

SF1219 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Office of the Inspector General establishment; requiring a fraud hotline; Requiring agencies to halt payment when fraud is suspected; elimination of agency based offices of inspector general; appropriation

Related bill: HF1

AI Generated Summary

This legislative bill proposes the establishment of an Office of the Inspector General within the legislative branch of Minnesota. The goal is to enhance oversight and increase accountability in state government by investigating and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse in public programs. The bill outlines the following key components:

Creation of the Office of the Inspector General: An independent office under the direction of the appointed Inspector General who will report to the Legislative Audit Commission.
Inspector General's Responsibilities and Powers: The Inspector General will have the authority to initiate investigations, request data, and issue subpoenas. Their tasks include leading the office, embedding staff in various state departments, developing a fraud reporting hotline, and recommending actions to prevent and address fraud.
Stopping Payments and Reporting Fraud: State agencies are required to halt payments and report cases when fraud is suspected. The Inspector General will have the authority to approve the resumption of these payments.
Data Protection and Sharing: The bill ensures that the Inspector General will comply with data privacy laws but will have access to necessary data for investigations.
Protection Against Retaliation: Safeguards are included to protect individuals who report fraudulent activities from retaliation.
Financial Appropriations: The bill outlines appropriations for the Inspector General’s operations.
Repeals and Reorganization: The bill repeals certain statutes and shifts responsibilities from existing department-based Inspectors General to the newly established central Office of the Inspector General.

In summary, the bill intends to centralize and strengthen the oversight of state operations to better detect, investigate, and prevent misuse of state resources, ensuring accountability and transparency within Minnesota’s state government.

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
February 09, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading
February 09, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Referred to	State and Local Government

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Subdivisions detailing the appointment, role, and oversight of the inspector general."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill amends section 3.97 to establish and define the role of a state inspector general and outlines the policy for continuous legislative review of public funds, focusing on fraud prevention and prosecution.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "3.97"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Requirements for notification to the legislative auditor about unlawful use of public funds."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amendments to section 3.971 clarify the legislative auditor's responsibilities concerning notification and coordination with the inspector general.",
      "modified": [
        "Expanded obligations of financial officers to notify the legislative auditor about specific data breaches."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "3.971"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill refers to chapter 13.02 to define terms related to government data practices in section 3.994 and other parts.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarification of data handling requirements and definitions as they pertain to the inspector general's work."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "13.02"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Refers to section 181.932 to protect employees disclosing information about fraud or abuse in state programs.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "181.932"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Section 518A.83 is referenced in amendments related to data sharing for child support enforcement.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "518A.83"
  }
]