HB 405

Abstract

This Act establishes an independent and nonpartisan Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the position of the Inspector General. The OIG will protect the health and safety of Delaware residents, assist in the recovery of misspent or inappropriately paid funds, and strengthen government integrity and the public trust in government operations by doing all of the following: 1. Investigate the management and operation of state agencies to determine if there has been waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement, corruption, or other conduct that is harmful to the public interest. 2. Coordinate with other agencies, recommend corrective actions and statutory revisions, and, if necessary, make referrals to law enforcement. 3. Provide reports to the Governor, Attorney General, and General Assembly, and these reports will be available to the public on the OIG website. The Inspector General will be selected through a process that requires a Selection Panel to provide 3 names to the Governor for consideration. The Governor will select a nominee from these 3 names for appointment as Inspector General and submit the nominee for confirmation by the Senate. Under this Act, the Selection Panel work must begin upon enactment and the work of the Office of the Inspector General must begin by March 1, 2023.