Office of Inspector General within the Department of Education provisions modifications

SF 2981 updates the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) within the Minnesota Department of Education by clarifying its authority to investigate fraud, theft, waste, and abuse in education programs. The bill establishes procedures for confidentiality during investigations, creates a process for notifying and appealing payment withholdings, and revises data handling rules - such as prohibiting student contact information (e.g., email, phone) from being classified as "directory information." It also specifies how personal student data must be shared for federal reporting and special education transition services. These changes modify the legal framework governing the OIG's operations and data management.