House Bill 466 Summary

• Establishes the Office of the State Inspector General, appointed by the Board of Examiners for a 6-year term subject to Senate confirmation, removable only by impeachment and conviction or by unanimous Board vote for malfeasance, incompetence, neglect of duty, or criminal conviction.

• Grants the Inspector General authority to investigate fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption within state agencies and political subdivisions, receive and investigate complaints, issue subpoenas, enter premises without notice, and question witnesses.

• Requires state agencies and officers to promptly report complaints of criminal acts, fraud, waste, abuse, or corruption to the Inspector General and cooperate fully with investigations by providing access to premises, equipment, personnel, records, and documents.

• Mandates the Inspector General submit annual reports by January 10 to the Governor and legislative committees summarizing significant problems, recommendations, complaints received, investigations completed, and internal audit program development.

• Exempts the legislative and judicial branches from the chapter's provisions and protects complaint documents and investigation materials from public disclosure unless fraud, waste, abuse, or corruption is found.