§ 32.1-320.1. Powers and duties of Unit Investigators.
A. The Attorney General may designate persons in the unit established pursuant to § 32.1-320 as investigators. Any person designated as an investigator shall be sworn to enforce the provisions of this article and the criminal laws of the Commonwealth, and shall be considered a law-enforcement officer pursuant to the definition set forth at § 9.1-101.
B. Investigators' powers and duties shall include, but not be limited to:
1. The authority to investigate all allegations of fraud in the administration of the Plan for Medical Assistance administered by the Department of Medical Assistance Services, the provision of medical assistance, or the activities of providers of medical assistance under the Plan for Medical Assistance.
2. The authority to investigate allegations of abuse or neglect of adults, and misappropriation of patients' private funds while such patients are in the care and custody of others, and other offenses authorized by law.
3. The authority to investigate any violation of the criminal laws of the Commonwealth that are ancillary to any allegation included within subdivisions 1 and 2.
C. The Attorney General or his designee may request that the Director of the Department of Criminal Justice Services exempt a unit investigator from the compulsory minimum training standards set forth in subdivision 2 of § 9.1-102 based upon the investigator's prior experience.
D. The Attorney General shall have the authority to issue a badge of the Attorney General's choosing to each person designated as an investigator. The Attorney General shall be authorized to incorporate the Seal of the Commonwealth in the design of the badge.
