HF 2961

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/13/2020 04:45pm

A bill for an act
relating to state government; expanding a requirement for reporting misuse of
public money or resources to the legislative auditor; amending Minnesota Statutes
2019 Supplement, section 3.971, subdivision 9.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2019 Supplement, section 3.971, subdivision 9, is amended
to read:

Subd. 9.

Obligation to notify the legislative auditor.

deleted text begin The chief executive, financial,
or information officers deleted text end new text begin (a) An employee new text end of an organization subject to audit under this section
must promptly notify the legislative auditor when the deleted text begin officer deleted text end new text begin employee new text end obtains information
indicating that public money or other public resources may have been used for an unlawful
purpose, or when the deleted text begin officer deleted text end new text begin employee new text end obtains information indicating that government data
classified by chapter 13 as not public may have been accessed by or provided to a person
without lawful authorization. As necessary, the legislative auditor shall coordinate an
investigation of the allegation with appropriate law enforcement officials.

new text begin (b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, if the legislative auditor determines during
an investigation that an employee required to report under this subdivision had knowledge
or reason to believe relevant information existed and willfully failed to notify the legislative
auditor promptly of information, the employee is subject to a penalty of two days' suspension,
without pay.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2020, and applies to any
information an employee has knowledge of on or after that date, regardless of when the
employee first obtained that knowledge.
new text end