A bill to establish an independent Office of Inspector General to lead the charge against fraud in state government programs passed the Minnesota Senate 66-0 and now heads to Governor Tim Walz for signature into law. The Minnesota House passed the bill on Thursday, 127-5.
“The inspector general answers to no commissioner, no agency head, no single executive,” said Senator Heather Gustafson, DFL-Vadnais Heights, the chief author of the bill. She says the bill will create a bipartisan commission to keep the office from becoming politicized.
“We are passing a bipartisan, well-vetted, thoroughly worked through anti-fraud bill that every Minnesotan should celebrate,” Sen. Nick Frentz, DFL-North Mankato, said during the debate.
The bill includes millions to fund the office, including $3 to $6 million in start-up costs.
Eventually, it will cost $11 to $12 million in annual operating costs for…
This involves defrauding the state or using government systems to steal from individuals.
- Tax Identity Theft: A criminal uses your ID and income details to file a tax return in your name and claim a refund before you do.
- Grant/Benefit Fraud: Falsely claiming unemployment, disability, or social grants that the perpetrator is not entitled to.