Bill > HF3043

This bill establishes a new criminal statute addressing illegal remunerations in two primary contexts: human services programs and grant awards. The law creates detailed provisions that criminalize soliciting, receiving, offering, or providing financial incentives or valuable considerations in exchange for referrals, recommendations, or actions related to federal health care programs, behavioral health programs, and family programs. Specifically, the bill makes it illegal to receive or offer money, discounts, credits, services, or employment as inducement for referring individuals, purchasing items, or applying for services under these programs. Similarly, the law extends to grants, making it a crime to solicit or offer value in exchange for awarding grants, recommending grants, or providing misleading information about grant applications. The penalties vary based on the value of the remuneration, with potential imprisonment of up to ten years and fines up to $20,000 for violations exceeding $5,000 in value, and up to five years imprisonment and $10,000 in fines for lesser amounts. The law includes exceptions for certain types of payments and provides mechanisms for aggregating offenses committed within a six-month period. The bill will become effective on August 1, 2025, and applies to crimes committed on or after that date, aiming to prevent fraud and improper financial inducements in public service and grant programs.

Justice

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF3043&ssn=0&y=2025