DOES RI NEED AN INSPECTOR GENERAL?
Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro to Testify in House Finance in Support of H7027 – A Bill to Create a RI Inspector Genera
MICHAEL CHIPPENDALE
State House, Providence – Today (Wednesday, May 22, 2024) the Massachusetts Inspector General will be testifying in House Finance at the Rise, in support of H7027, legislation to create an Office of Inspector General in Rhode Island. The House Minority Caucus bill is sponsored by Representative George Nardone. General Shapiro and Rep Nardone will have media availability following his presentation.
Jeffery S. Shapiro, Massachusetts Inspector General
The Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General (OIG) was created in 1981 and is the first state-wide inspector general’s office in the nation. Jeffrey S. Shapiro was sworn in as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ fifth Inspector General in October 2022.
Under his leadership, the OIG has expanded access to training for municipalities on procurement, local boards and commissions governance, contract administration, proper use and management of federal pandemic relief funds and fraud prevention. IG Shapiro has supported common sense changes in the state’s procurement law, helped craft legislation to streamline procurement of electric school buses and called for legislative changes in the state retirement system and safety oversight of the MBTA. Additionally, the OIG has conducted numerous investigations that were initiated proactively or as a result of the thousands of tips or complaints made to the office through its two hotlines. The investigations ranged from misuse of pandemic funds, irregularities in the handling of cash by municipal employees, fraudulent overtime payments to state police, overpayment for education incentives by a local police department and reviews of contracts for public school bus transportation, transit police dispatch services, and in-station customer service.
Quote from Leader Michael Chippendale: “We are grateful to General Shapiro and his colleagues at the Association of Inspector Generals for their input in helping us to create bi-partisan legislation to initiate an Office of Inspector here in Rhode Island. An Independent Office of Inspector General (OIG) in Rhode Island would significantly enhance governmental transparency and accountability. An OIG would serve as an impartial watchdog, dedicated to identifying and addressing inefficiencies, fraud, and abuse within state agencies. This initiative not only aligns with best practices in other states and the Federal Government, but also represents a proactive step towards robust governance and fiscal responsibility.”
Quote from Bill Sponsor Representative George Nardone: “Since 2002 there has been a bi-partisan call in Rhode Island to establish an Office of Inspector General, to root out waste, fraud and abuses in RI state government and offer recommended reform. When any element of the Executive or Legislative branch fails to meet the high standards expected of them – there must be a mechanism for impartial investigation. This office would serve as a guardian of public trust. Only through rigorous, independent oversight and staff training can we expect the people of Rhode Island to have any level of confidence in their government or the integrity of our government institutions. The time for an Office of Inspector General – an independent entity with the authority to investigate any issue across all corners of government – is NOW.”
WHEN: Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Rise (approx. 5 PM)
WHERE: House Finance, Room 35, Rhode Island State House