DELAWAREÂ -Â The Delaware State Senate on Thursday, May 22, unanimously passed a bipartisan bill that would create an independent Office of the Inspector General tasked with investigating fraud, waste, and abuse within state government.
Sponsored by Sen. Laura Sturgeon, D-Brandywine, the bill seeks to increase transparency and restore public trust by creating a non-partisan agency empowered to identify and help recover misused taxpayer dollars.
"Public servants have a fundamental responsibility to act as careful stewards of taxpayer dollars," Sturgeon said in a statement. "Delaware residents deserve transparency, and this bill ensures that state operations are conducted with the highest degree of integrity and precision."
The Office of the Inspector General would work in coordination with agencies such as the Attorney General’s Office and the Auditor of Accounts. It would have authority to recommend corrective actions, refer matters to law enforcement when needed, and issue reports to the governor, attorney general, General Assembly, and the public via a dedicated website.
"We’re living through a moment in our nation’s history characterized by unprecedented partisan division," Sturgeon said. "This bill is a major step forward in putting politics aside and building trust between elected officials and constituents."
The inspector general would not be elected. Instead, a selection panel would submit three candidates to the governor, who would nominate one for Senate confirmation. The appointee would serve a single five-year term.
Rep. Cyndie Romer, D-Newark, the bill’s prime sponsor in the House, said the new office would strengthen oversight across state agencies.
"While we try our best to show Delawareans exactly how their tax dollars are being used, we can’t always reach everyone," Romer said. "By creating an independent, non-partisan Office of the Inspector General, we are able to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks."
SB 4 now heads to the Delaware House of Representatives for consideration.