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Ohio bill aims to help workers report fraud

New tracking system  will give whistle-blowers better protections.

handout State Rep. Ross McGregor, R-Springfield, is the sponsor of a bill that would set up a system for tracking fraud reported to the Ohio auditor.

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By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer Updated 8:59 AM Thursday, January 26, 2012

Ohio lawmakers have taken a step to strengthen whistle-blower protections in an effort to get more public employees to report fraud, waste and abuse.

The Ohio House on Wednesday joined the Senate in unanimously passing a bill that would set up a system for tracking fraud reported to the Ohio auditor and extend protections to those who report it. It’s expected to reach the governor’s desk in the coming days.

State Rep. Ross McGregor, R-Springfield, is the bill’s sponsor and has been pushing for a law like this for years.

“We need to make sure every taxpayer dollar we’re receiving is being used for its intended purpose and not being directed to someone’s gain,” McGregor said.

The bill creates a toll-free hot line, a Web tool and a mailbox where people can anonymously report suspected fraud by any public office or public official. It requires governments to provide employees with information on how to report suspected fraud.

It also protects public workers from retaliation or disciplinary action for employees reporting suspected misuse of public funds.

Whistle-blower protections are vital, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, which estimates nearly half of all fraud found in government agencies are reported through tips.

“Historically, whistle-blowers have just been shunned by their co-workers and have just been fired by their employers,” said Heinz Ickert, a Columbus-area private fraud investigator and president of the ACFE’s central Ohio chapter.

“Without this type of protection, many people just ignore the problem.”

Bill supporters say loss and waste is reduced by 50 percent for organizations with an anonymous fraud hot line.

“Rep. McGregor has worked hard over three sessions now to pass this good government bill,” Ohio Auditor Dave Yost said.

“A proven system of reporting fraud is now permanent Ohio law, where it will help protect state and local taxpayers from fraud that, unfortunately, we discover all too frequently,” Yost said.

The auditor’s office already investigates fraud, but this bill codifies and promotes the practice and builds protections for public employees who utilize it.

McGregor’s bill was amended  in the Senate to add a requirement backed by media groups that the state auditor keep a publicly viewable log of when complaints are received, a general description of the complaint, what agency the complaint is against and the status of the complaint.

The fraud hot line is (866) 372-8264; the website is www.fraudohio.com.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0374 or jsweigart@coxohio.com.

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