Committee advances bill expanding inspector general’s authority over cash, food and health assistance programs

The Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare voted to advance House Bill 2217, a proposal that would expand the Office of Inspector General’s authority to investigate and audit state cash, food and health assistance programs, and that would explicitly grant investigators the ability to issue subpoenas, take oaths, compel testimony and execute search warrants.

Jenna, committee staff, summarized the bill at the start of the hearing, saying the measure “expands the power of the Inspector General to investigate and audit all state cash, food, and health assistance programs,” and noting the bill’s definitions and structural changes. The committee adopted an amendment excluding the state employee health benefits program from the bill’s definition of health assistance.

Supporters said the change would strengthen oversight and help recover public funds. Steve Anderson, representing the Office of Inspector General, told the committee the OIG’s “core mission ... is to identify fraud, waste and abuse and illegal acts in the various programs” and that expanding explicit investigative authority would let the office perform audits, internal staff…