BILL NUMBER: S3198

SPONSOR: HELMING
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the authority of the
welfare inspector general to conduct investigations

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to increase the authority of the Welfare
Inspector General to conduct investigations independent of the Attorney
General.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends subdivision 5 of section 48 of the executive law, to
authorize the Welfare Inspector General to conduct any investigation of
the operations of the state social services department and local social
services districts, the state health department, and local health
departments; and the state department of mental health hygiene and
community mental health boards in order to insure proper expenditure of
              

welfare funds; of violations of the welfare system; of failure to prose-
cute welfare frauds; of failure to enforce the state's laws regarding
the employment of welfare recipients in available employment; of failure
of local officials and employees to comply with state law, rules, and
regulations regarding welfare administration which shall be deemed to
include medical assistance, and other matters relating thereto.

Section 2: States that this act shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

It is critically important to be able to efficiently investigate and
prosecute welfare fraud and abuse and try to deter it in the most effec-
tive way possible. This legislation would give the Welfare Inspector
General independent power to investigate abuse thus making the depart-
ment its own entity independent of the political influences and purview
of the attorney general. If this independent power was granted to the
Welfare Inspector General, a greater focus would be placed on investi-
gating and prosecuting welfare fraud and abuse in New York State.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-2022: S.2181 referred to Finance/A.3825 referred to Governmental
Operations

2019- 2020: S.8881 referred to Rules/A.10863 referred to Governmental
Operations

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.