Reporting Requirements for Public Employees
Anyone who has information about the misuse of public money,
resources, or data—or noncompliance with state laws—is encouraged to
report that information to the Office of the Legislative Auditor
(OLA). In addition, there are a number of statutes that either
require or encourage public employees to report these issues to OLA.
For example:
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“An obligated officer of an organization subject to audit under
this section must promptly notify the
legislative auditor when the officer obtains information
indicating that public money or other public resources may have
been used for an unlawful purpose, or when the officer obtains
information indicating that government data classified by
[Minnesota Statutes] chapter 13 as not public may have been
accessed by or provided to a person without lawful
authorization. As necessary, the legislative auditor shall
coordinate an investigation of the allegation with appropriate
law enforcement officials.” (Minnesota Statutes
2025, 3.971, subd. 9; emphasis added.)
An “‘obligated officer’ means the organization’s: (1) chief
executive officer; (2) deputy and assistant chief executive
officers; (3) chief administrative, chief financial, chief
information, and chief investigative officers; (4) heads of
divisions, bureaus, departments, institutes, or other
organizational units; and (5) board chair, where applicable.”
(Minnesota Statutes
2025, 3.971, subd. 9; emphasis added.)
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“The commissioner or chief executive officer of each state
department, board, commission, office, or other agency
must ensure that employee and nonemployee concerns
about the misuse of public money, other public resources, or
government data are promptly directed to one or
more of the obligated officers identified in [Minnesota Statutes]
3.971, subdivision 9, or the Office of the Legislative Auditor.”
(Minnesota Statutes
2025, 15.0573, as added by Laws of Minnesota 2025, chapter 39,
art. 2, sec. 23; emphasis added.)
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“Each member, officer, or employee in the legislative, judicial,
and executive branches shall report any evidence
of misuse of long-distance telephone service to the chief officer
of the legislative body, judicial branch, executive office, or
executive agency, and to the legislative auditor when appropriate.
The legislative auditor shall investigate and report on evidence
of misuse of long-distance telephone service of legislators,
judges, constitutional officers, heads of executive departments
and agencies, and state employees and, where appropriate, refer
the evidence to other authorities.” (Minnesota Statutes
2025, 10.47; emphasis added.)
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“A state employee who discovers evidence of violation of laws or
rules governing grants must promptly report the
violation or suspected violation to the employee’s supervisor or
manager, the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee, or the
legislative auditor. If the state employee notifies the employee’s
supervisor or manager, or the commissioner or the commissioner’s
designee, then the supervisor, manager, commissioner, or
commissioner’s designee must notify the
legislative auditor.” (Minnesota Statutes
2025, 16B.98, subd. 4; emphasis added.)
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“A state employee who discovers evidence of violation of laws or
rules governing state contracts is
encouraged to report the violation or suspected
violation to the employee’s supervisor, the commissioner or the
commissioner’s designee, or the legislative auditor. (Minnesota Statutes
2025, 16C.045; emphasis added.)
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“Any employee who intentionally fails to comply with the
provisions of [Minnesota Statutes] chapter 43A shall be subject to
disciplinary action and action pursuant to chapter 609. An
appointing authority shall report in writing to
the legislative auditor when there is probable cause to believe
that a substantial violation has occurred.” (Minnesota Statutes
2025, 43A.39, subd. 2; emphasis added.)
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“Whenever an employee or officer of the state, University of
Minnesota, or other organization listed in [Minnesota Statutes]
section 3.971, subdivision 6, discovers evidence of theft,
embezzlement, or unlawful use of public funds or property, the
employee or officer shall, except when to do so
would knowingly impede or otherwise interfere with an ongoing
criminal investigation,
promptly report in writing to the legislative
auditor a detailed description of the alleged incident or
incidents.” (Minnesota Statutes
2025, 609.456, subd. 2; emphasis added.)
OLA prefers that public employees submit reports in writing through
email (ola.complaints@state.mn.us), U.S. mail, or OLA’s
online allegation form. You may also
contact Katherine Theisen, OLA’s Deputy Legislative Auditor for the
Special Reviews Division, directly at
Katherine.Theisen@state.mn.us
or 651-296-1229.
After we receive reports, we make a preliminary assessment to
determine if further review by OLA is warranted.
