| 1 | 1 | | 1.1 A bill for an act |
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| 2 | 2 | | 1.2 relating to state government; increasing penalties for employees and officials for |
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| 3 | 3 | | 1.3 failure to stop fraudulent payments; enhancing responsibilities for employees and |
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| 4 | 4 | | 1.4 officials to stop fraudulent payments; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections |
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| 5 | 5 | | 1.5 16A.41, subdivision 1; 609.455. |
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| 6 | 6 | | 1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: |
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| 7 | 7 | | 1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 16A.41, subdivision 1, is amended to read: |
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| 8 | 8 | | 1.8 Subdivision 1.Certified.(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) and subdivision 1a, |
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| 9 | 9 | | 1.9when claims against the state are made for which there is an appropriation available, an |
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| 10 | 10 | | 1.10official with authority to pay a claim shall approve the claim by certifying that the service |
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| 11 | 11 | | 1.11was performed, the goods or material furnished, or monthly telephone service is in effect. |
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| 12 | 12 | | 1.12The claim must be sent to the commissioner accompanied by a transmittal form as prescribed |
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| 13 | 13 | | 1.13by the commissioner. |
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| 14 | 14 | | 1.14 (b) If an employee or official has reported misuse of public funds related to the claim, |
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| 15 | 15 | | 1.15the official violates section 609.455 by disbursing the funds before a completed investigation |
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| 16 | 16 | | 1.16by the attorney general or legislative auditor concludes that the claim is not in violation of |
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| 17 | 17 | | 1.17law. |
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| 18 | 18 | | 1.18 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.455, is amended to read: |
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| 19 | 19 | | 1.19 609.455 PERMITTING PREVENTING FALSE AND FRAUDULENT CLAIMS |
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| 20 | 20 | | 1.20AGAINST GOVERNMENT . |
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| 21 | 21 | | 1.21 (a) A public officer or employee who audits, allows, or pays any claim or demand made |
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| 22 | 22 | | 1.22upon the state or subdivision thereof or other governmental instrumentality within the state |
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| 23 | 23 | | 1Sec. 2. |
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| 24 | 24 | | 25-04530 as introduced03/11/25 REVISOR SGS/DG |
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| 25 | 25 | | SENATE |
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| 26 | 26 | | STATE OF MINNESOTA |
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| 27 | 27 | | S.F. No. 2672NINETY-FOURTH SESSION |
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| 28 | 28 | | (SENATE AUTHORS: DRAZKOWSKI and Lucero) |
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| 29 | 29 | | OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE |
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| 30 | 30 | | Introduction and first reading03/17/2025 |
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| 31 | 31 | | Referred to State and Local Government 2.1which the public officer or employee knows is false or fraudulent in whole or in part, may |
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| 32 | 32 | | 2.2be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five seven years or to payment of a fine of |
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| 33 | 33 | | 2.3not more than $10,000 $20,000, or both, unless payment of the claim or demand is ordered |
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| 34 | 34 | | 2.4by a court. |
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| 35 | 35 | | 2.5 (b) For purposes of this section, "claim or demand" means any payment of public funds |
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| 36 | 36 | | 2.6to a person, business, or organization, including a payment under a government grant |
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| 37 | 37 | | 2.7program, payment on a contract, and a grant of money appropriated by name to the recipient. |
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| 38 | 38 | | 2Sec. 2. |
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| 39 | 39 | | 25-04530 as introduced03/11/25 REVISOR SGS/DG |
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