INDIANAPOLIS (May 11, 2005) – Governor Daniels signed legislation today that puts measures in place to restore public trust in state government. HEA 1501 finalizes creation of the Office of Inspector General (IG) and overhauls ethics rules for state employees.

 

The Inspector General’s Office already has successfully referred one alleged bribery case to a county prosecutor and initiated more than 50 formal investigations.

 

“Instead of one of the weakest set of ethics rules, Indiana now has one of the strongest laws, with the mechanisms to uphold it,” said the governor.

 

Eleven other states have an inspector general, and the bill received support from the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council and an endorsement from the Indiana Sheriff’s Association. The law provides that the Appellate Court can appoint the IG or a local prosecutor to handle a case in the rare instance that a local prosecutor does not pursue a case after six months.

 

The public integrity portion of the bill includes a strong whistleblower provision for state employees who report misconduct, misdeeds and theft in state government. It also permits the IG and Attorney General to recover tax dollars that are stolen and defrauded by state employees or contractors.

 

State officers and employees are prohibited from accepting employment, benefits or from participating in decisions when they have a conflict of interest, and the law requires a one-year waiting period before a state officer or employee can work as a lobbyist or with an entity that the individual negotiated with, regulated, supervised or licensed.

 

The original bill was authored by Speaker of the House Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, and Rep. Trent Van Haaften, D-Mount Vernon, was the chief negotiator during the final compromise of the bill. Rep. David Yount, R-Columbus, was the author, and co-authors were Rep. Robert Kuzman, D-Crown Point; Rep. Andrew Thomas, R-Brazil, and Rep. Troy Woodruff, R-Vincennes. The Senate sponsor was Sen. Greg Server, R-Evansville, and the co-sponsor was Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Anderson.

 

 

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