Mississippi Whistleblower Reward Act; create.

HB 1169, the Mississippi Whistleblower Reward Act, would establish a reward system for individuals who report theft or misuse of government funds or property to the Mississippi Department of Audit. Whistleblowers providing original information and substantial evidence leading to the recovery of funds would receive 15% of the recovered amount, capped at $250,000, paid from the responsible party or entity. The bill includes strong confidentiality protections, keeping whistleblower identities and communications with the Department exempt from public records disclosure, except in limited legal circumstances like court proceedings. It applies only to reports submitted after the law's effective date and does not cover employees of the Department of Audit or public officials.