Section 136. Workers' compensation fraud inspector general

1. Definitions.
  For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
    (a)  "Inspector  general"  means  the  workers'   compensation   fraud
  inspector general created by this section.
    (b)  "Assistant inspector general" means a workers' compensation fraud
  assistant inspector general created by this section.
    2. Appointment, compensation and removal.  Notwithstanding  any  other
  provision  of law, the governor shall appoint the inspector general. The
  board shall employ and the governor shall fix the  compensation  of  the
  inspector  general.  The  inspector general shall, and may do so without
  civil service examination, appoint and  the  board  shall  employ,  such
  assistant  inspectors  general  and  other  persons  as  he or she deems
  necessary, determine their  duties  and  fix  their  compensation.  Such
  assistant  inspectors  general  shall  assist  the  inspector general in
  carrying out the inspector general's duties and responsibilities as  set
  forth  in  this  section  and  shall  have  such  powers  as granted the
  inspector general under this section. Employees  appointed  pursuant  to
  this  section  without  civil service examination shall be placed in the
  noncompetitive class of the competitive service pursuant to  subdivision
  two-a  of  section forty-two of the civil service law and shall serve at
  the pleasure of the governor. The payment of salaries  and  compensation
  of  employees  appointed pursuant to this section shall be made pursuant
  to section one hundred forty-eight of this chapter.
    3. Powers, duties and responsibilities. The  inspector  general  shall
  investigate  violations  of  the  laws and regulations pertaining to the
  operation of the workers' compensation  system.  The  inspector  general
  shall have the following powers, duties and functions:
    (a)  to  conduct  and supervise investigations, within or without this
  state, of possible  fraud  and  other  violations  of  laws,  rules  and
  regulations pertaining to the workers' compensation system;
    (b)  to  subpoena  witnesses,  administer  oaths or affirmations, take
  testimony and compel the production of such books, papers,  records  and
  documents  as  the  inspector  general  may  deem  to  be relevant to an
  investigation undertaken pursuant to this section;
    (c) to report to the attorney general, the insurance frauds bureau, or
  other appropriate  law  enforcement  agency,  violations  found  through
  investigations  undertaken  pursuant to this section and to provide such
  materials and assistance as may be  necessary  or  appropriate  for  the
  successful investigation and prosecution of violations of this chapter;
    (d)  to  submit  a written report, on an annual basis, to the governor
  and to the chair of the board, listing all activities undertaken to  the
  extent  such activities can be disclosed pursuant to subdivision five of
  this section; and
    (e) to recommend legislative and regulatory changes  to  the  governor
  and to the chair of the board.
    4.  Cooperation  of agency officials and employees. (a) In addition to
  the authority otherwise provided by this section, the inspector general,
  in carrying out the provisions of this section, is authorized:
    (i) to have full and unrestricted  access  to  all  records,  reports,
  audits,  reviews,  documents,  papers, recommendations or other material
  maintained by the board or  any  other  state  agency  relating  to  the
  workers'  compensation  system,  with  respect  to  which  the inspector
  general has responsibilities under this section; and
    (ii) to request such information, assistance and cooperation from  any
  federal,   state   or   local  government,  department,  board,  bureau,
  commission, or other agency or unit thereof  as  may  be  necessary  for
  carrying out the duties and responsibilities enjoined upon the inspector
  general  by  this section. State and local agencies or units thereof are

  hereby authorized and directed to provide such  information,  assistance
  and cooperation.
    (b) No person shall prevent, seek to prevent, interfere with, obstruct
  or  otherwise  hinder any investigation being conducted pursuant to this
  section.
    5. Disclosure of information. The inspector general shall not publicly
  disclose information which is:
    (a) a part of an ongoing investigation or prosecution; or
    (b) specifically prohibited from disclosure by any other provision  of
  law.
    The  disclosure  of  information in order to coordinate investigations
  with the  insurance  frauds  bureau  of  the  department  of  insurance,
  including   the   unit   for   workers'  compensation  insurance  frauds
  investigations within such  insurance  frauds  bureau,  and  any  frauds
  investigations  unit  of the state insurance fund, to provide the report
  required by paragraph (c) of subdivision three of  this  section  or  to
  apprise  the  chair  of  ongoing  investigations shall not be considered
  public disclosure for purposes of this section.