1. Any public officer or employee who has the power to approve a payment for travel expenses or any other expenditure of public funds shall determine before approving the payment: a. That the expenditure for travel or other expenditures were for lawful and official purposes. b. If for employee travel reimbursement, the sums claimed for travel expenses are actually due the individual who is seeking reimbursement, allowance, or payment. c. If the payment is for expenditure other than travel expense, that the expenditure is lawful and that the payment contains no false claims. 2. The director of the office of management and budget, the state board of higher education, the governing body of any political subdivision, and the board of any school district may establish and administer a purchasing card system for use by its officers, employees, representatives, or agents. If the director of the office of management and budget establishes a cooperative purchasing contract under section 54 -44.4-13, each participating government entity is responsible for its purchasing card system. 3. An employee of the office of management and budget designated by the director of the office of management and budget, on behalf of all state agencies, may review and approve payments made with a purchasing card and make payments. The director of the office of management and budget may designate the state agencies that are required to use the purchasing card system. 4. Any public officer or employee who fraudulently uses a purchasing card or knowingly approves a payment for false or unlawful claims or which does not otherwise meet the requirements of this section for approval may be subject to criminal prosecution under title 12.1. Any public officer or employee who, without the use of ordinary care and diligence, uses a purchasing card or approves a payment for false or unlawful claims or which does not otherwise meet the requirements of this section for approval is personally liable for any funds improperly expended. 5. Any public officer, employee, or any other individual who has knowledge of an actual or possible violation of this section shall make that information known to the attorney general or the appropriate state's attorney. The attorney general or appropriate state's attorney may investigate any alleged violation. If there is probable cause to believe that a violation has occurred, the attorney general or appropriate state's attorney shall initiate a criminal prosecution under title 12.1 or a civil suit against the public officer or employee for the recovery of the funds as may actually have been improperly paid, or may initiate a prosecution and a civil suit. Any public officer, employee, or any other individual who has provided information to the attorney general or a state's attorney under this subsection shall keep the information confidential until a determination is made as to whether a criminal prosecution is warranted.
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