(1) There is created within the State Department of Human Services a separate administrative unit to be known as the “Fraud Investigation Unit.” The Fraud Investigation Unit shall be headed by a director appointed by the Executive Director of the department. The Director of the Fraud Investigation Unit shall be a person who is knowledgeable in the programs administered by the department. The Fraud Investigation Unit shall be responsible for:

(a) Conducting investigations for the purpose of aiding the department in the detection of and verification of the perpetration of fraud or abuse of any program by any client, any vendor of services with whom the department has contracted or any employee of the department, and for the aiding of the department in the recoupment of any funds owed to the department as a result of fraud or abuse;

(b) The notification and forwarding of any information relevant to possible criminal violations to the appropriate prosecuting authority and assisting in the prosecution of any case referred to a prosecutor, if requested; and

(c) Such other duties as prescribed in regulations of the department.

(2) The Fraud Investigation Unit is authorized to employ such other investigative, technical, secretarial and support staff as may be necessary.

(3) In order to carry out the responsibilities of the Fraud Investigation Unit, the investigators may request and receive assistance from all state and local agencies, boards, commissions, and bureaus including, without limitation, the State Tax Commission, the Department of Public Safety, and all public and private agencies maintaining data banks, criminal or other records that would enable the investigators to make verification of fraud or abuse in violation of state or federal statutes. All records and information shall be confidential and shall be available only to the Fraud Investigation Unit, district or county attorneys, the Attorney General, and courts having jurisdiction in criminal proceedings.

(4) The department is authorized to enter into contracts with other agencies administering aid or benefits or services under any state or federally funded assistance program which need the assistance of the department’s Fraud Investigation Unit.

(5) To accomplish the objectives and to carry out the duties prescribed in this section, the executive director, or his designee, in addition to the powers conferred by this section, may issue subpoenas with the approval of, and returnable to, a judge of the circuit, county or chancery court, in termtime or in vacation, to examine the records, documents or other evidence of persons, firms, corporations or any other entities insofar as such records, documents or other evidence relate to dealings material to an investigation.