Local government: whistleblower hotline.

Existing law authorizes a city, county, or city and county auditor or controller to maintain a whistleblower hotline to receive calls from persons who have information regarding possible violations by local government employees of state, federal, or local statutes, rules, or regulations, and requires any investigation conducted pursuant to this authorization to be kept confidential except where release of findings of a conducted investigation is deemed necessary to serve the interests of the public, except that the identity of the individual or individuals involved in the investigation is required to be kept confidential. This bill would specify that a city, county, or city and county auditor or controller may maintain the whistleblower hotline to receive calls from persons who have information regarding fraud, waste, or abuse, and would define those terms. The bill would also authorize the auditor or controller to provide a copy of a substantiated audit report or investigation to the appropriate appointing authority for disciplinary purposes, as specified.