Cooperation with Public Bodies and Private Entities

(1) Assistance to Public Agencies Upon request of a public body involved in the expenditure of public funds or use of public property for the purpose of procurement of construction, supplies or services, and subject to the availability of resources, the Inspector General may provide assistance, including the assignment of personnel, to assist such public body for the purpose of formulating and implementing policies or procedures which will aid in the prevention or detection of fraud, waste or abuse. (2) Development and Recommendation of Policy The Inspector General may recommend policies for the coordination of efforts by public and private bodies to prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse. The Inspector General may convene ad hoc or ongoingcommittees or task forces composed of representatives of public bodies, private entities and individuals to advise and assist the Office in the developmentofpoliciesorprocedures related to the prevention or detection of fraud, waste and abuse. (3) Coordination with Investigative or Law Enforcement Agencies (a) To avoid duplication of effort and maximize utilization of resources, the Inspector General may enter into memoranda of understanding or other agreements withlocal, state or federal investigative or law enforcement agencies. Such memoranda or agreements may involve, but are not limited to, matters such as information sharing, declination policy, cross designation of personnel, and coordinated or joint investigations on co-jurisdictional investigations or audits. (b) Any memoranda or agreement entered into under 945 CMR 1.11(3)(a) shall incorporate as a condition of agreement that any information, records or documents of the Office of Inspector General which are provided by the Office to the cooperating investigative or law enforcement agency shall be treated as confidential. (c) When records of the Office of Inspector General are shared in the course of an investigation or audit with a cooperating investigative or law enforcement agency, officers, employees or agents of such agency shall be bound by all statutes, rules or regulations applicable to the Office regarding confidentiality of records, documents or testimony.