Supporters of a whistleblower bill hope this is the year Minnesota follows the lead of nearly two dozen other states in passing a law to reward those who stop fraud against the government. But they have encountered unanticipated resistance from the former attorney general, Mike Hatch, my colleague Mike Kaszuba reported.

Under the House bill’s research summary, here are the generous rewards specified for whistleblowers who help the government recover money that would otherwise have been stolen by fraudsters:

“Distribution to private plaintiff. Provides that when the Attorney General intervenes at the outset of an action brought by another person, the person shall receive not less than 15 percent or more than 25 percent of any recovery in proportion to the person’s contribution to the conduct of the action. If the Attorney General does not intervene at the outset, the person must receive between 25 and 30 percent of any recovery or settlement, as the court determines to be reasonable.”

On March 5, the House bill (chief sponsor Rep. Steve Simon, DFL-St. Louis Park) was referred to the State Government Finance Division. On Monday, the Senate bill (sponsored by Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park) was passed out of the State and Local Government Operations Committee and referred to the Finance Committee.

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