Legislative purpose and findings; powers and duties of fraud control unit; transfer to the Office of the Attorney General; legislative report

(a) The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit shall have the following powers and duties: (1) The investigation and referral for prosecution of all violations of applicable state and federal laws pertaining to the provision of goods or services under the medical programs of the state including the Medicaid program. (2) The investigation of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of residents in board and care facilities and patients in health care facilities which receive payments under the medical programs of the state. (3) To cooperate with the federal government in all programs designed to detect and deter fraud and abuse in the medical programs of the state. (4) To employ and train personnel to achieve the purposes of this article and to employ legal counsel, investigators, auditors, and clerical support personnel and such other personnel as are deemed necessary from time to time to accomplish the purposes herein. (b) The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit shall be within the Office of the Attorney General. All rights, responsibilities, powers, and duties of the unit shall be transferred to the Office of the Attorney General, including the administration and authority of the Medicaid Fraud Control Fund.