Maryland Office of the Inspector General - Establishment

HB 1449 establishes the Maryland Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to independently oversee state agency operations. It creates an Advisory Board (with the Governor, Comptroller, and legislative leaders) to appoint the OIG director, who must have expertise in auditing, law, or public administration and serve a 6-year term. The bill requires all state agencies ("units") to fully cooperate with OIG investigations and audits, protects whistleblowers who report misconduct to the OIG, and ensures confidentiality for OIG records under public information laws. This new office directly affects state agencies by mandating their cooperation and provides a formal structure for oversight of state government spending and operations.