Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to enhance government accountability and transparency by creating the Office of the Inspector General in Minnesota. This new office is intended to oversee state agencies and programs to ensure integrity and prevent fraud and misuse.

Main Provisions

• Office Creation: Establishes the Office of the Inspector General as an independent entity to monitor state agencies.
• Responsibilities: The Inspector General is tasked with ensuring accountability, transparency, and integrity within state operations. They have the authority to review and investigate reports of fraud and misuse.
• Reporting Structure: The Inspector General will operate independently and report directly to the chief administrative law judge, avoiding influence from other executive or legislative bodies.
• Advisory Committee & Reports: The bill calls for the creation of an advisory committee to assist the Inspector General, and mandates regular reporting on their findings and activities.
• Agency Duties Transfer: Some responsibilities from existing agencies are transferred to the new office to consolidate efforts in overseeing government integrity.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amendments: The bill proposes amendments to several Minnesota Statutes, incorporating the new role of the Inspector General into statutes related to public reporting of fraud and the determination of agency head salaries.
• Repeals: It repeals certain sections of existing laws to eliminate redundancies and align current laws with the establishment of the new office.

Relevant Terms

• Inspector General
• Fraud and Misuse
• Independent Oversight
• Accountability and Transparency
• State Agencies
• Legislative Auditor
• Chief Administrative Law Judge