Bill > HF2813

This bill strengthens legal penalties and responsibilities for government employees and officials who process potentially fraudulent payment claims. Specifically, the legislation amends existing statutes to require that if an employee reports potential misuse of public funds, the official cannot disburse those funds until a complete investigation by the attorney general or legislative auditor determines whether the claim violates the law. The bill also increases criminal penalties for officials who knowingly approve false or fraudulent claims, raising the maximum prison sentence from five to seven years and increasing the maximum fine from $10,000 to $20,000. The legislation broadly defines a "claim or demand" to include various types of public fund payments, such as government grants, contract payments, and specifically named appropriations. The changes are designed to create stronger deterrents and accountability mechanisms to prevent fraudulent use of public funds, giving government officials more explicit legal obligations to scrutinize and investigate potentially improper payment requests before authorizing them.

Government Affairs

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF2813&ssn=0&y=2025