Merit Institute Merit

The Minnesota Government Transparency & Performance Act (MN-GT&P)

Minnesota state companion to GT&P. Uses Inspector-General independence (no Schedule F analog). Strengthens the Minnesota False Claims Act (M.S. Ch. 15C) and extends the Government Data Practices Act.

THE MINNESOTA GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY & PERFORMANCE ACT (MN-GT&P)

Vehicle: State passage. Minnesota Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate State Government Finance and Elections / Taxes.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Minnesota Government Transparency & Performance Act (MN-GT&P).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that the State Personnel System operates under M.S. Ch. 43A; that the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act operates under M.S. Ch. 13; that Minnesota Management and Budget operates under M.S. Ch. 16A; that the Office of the Legislative Auditor provides fiscal analysis; and that Minnesota enacted the False Claims Act under M.S. Ch. 15C. This Act extends these frameworks and does not adopt a federal Schedule F analog.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH MINNESOTA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “MMB” means Minnesota Management and Budget.
  2. (b) “Publicly visible outcome” means a metric published under Sec. 201.
  3. (c) “MN-FCA” means M.S. Ch. 15C.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Minnesota Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • M.S. Ch. 43A (Personnel).
  • M.S. Ch. 13 (Government Data Practices).
  • M.S. Ch. 16A (MMB).
  • M.S. Ch. 15C (FCA).

TITLE II — OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING

Sec. 201. Outcome Metrics for Covered Programs

  1. (a) Each covered program in the Budget shall publish at least three outcome metrics.
  2. (b) MMB shall publish the Minnesota Outcome Dashboard in machine-readable form.

Sec. 202. Fiscal-Note Outcome Integration

  1. (a) Office of the Legislative Auditor analyses shall identify outcome metrics from Sec. 201.

TITLE III — INSPECTOR GENERAL INDEPENDENCE (Schedule-F Substitute)

Sec. 301. Agency Inspector General Authorities

  1. (a) Each state agency head shall designate an Office of Inspector General with independent hiring, subpoena, and reporting authority.
  2. (b) Nothing in this section modifies M.S. Ch. 43A merit protections.
  3. (c) OIG shall publish an annual outcome audit for each covered program.

TITLE IV — MINNESOTA FALSE CLAIMS ACT AMENDMENT

Sec. 401. Credentialing and Outcome-Data Fraud

  1. (a) M.S. Ch. 15C is amended to clarify that a person presenting a materially false or fraudulent claim involving MNRMC, Federal FRAC, or MN-OBSA outcome data is liable to the State for a civil penalty and treble damages.

Sec. 402. Whistleblower Award

  1. (a) A whistleblower whose information leads to recovery shall receive between 15 and 30 percent of the State recovery, as determined by the Attorney General.

TITLE V — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 502. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect on the July 1 following enactment.

Canonical federal version: GT&P. Other Minnesota bills: MN-ACSA, MN-MEWRA, MN-AI-Workforce.