CHAPTER 682

S.P. 658 - L.D. 1741

An Act To Encourage Reporting of Potential Fraud, Waste,

Inefficiency and Abuse in State Government

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 3 MRSA §995, sub-§5 is enacted to read:

5.__Coordination with State Auditor; complaints alleging fraud, waste, inefficiency or abuse.__The director may access confidential information disclosed by the State Auditor under Title 5, section 244-D, subsection 3 in order to ensure appropriate agency referral or coordination between agencies to respond appropriately to all complaints made under Title 5, section 244-D.

Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §244-D is enacted to read:

§244-D.__Referral service; confidentiality; public records

1.__Identity confidential.__The identity of a person making a complaint alleging fraud, waste, inefficiency or abuse through a hotline or other referral service established by the State Auditor for the confidential reporting of fraud, waste, inefficiency and abuse in State Government is confidential and may not be disclosed, unless the person making the complaint agrees in writing to the disclosure of that person's name.

2.__Contents of complaint confidential.__A complaint alleging fraud, waste, inefficiency or abuse made through a hotline or other referral service established by the State Auditor for the confidential reporting of fraud, waste, inefficiency and abuse in State Government and any resulting investigation is confidential and may not be disclosed except as provided in subsections 3 and 4.