Legislative Employee Whistleblower Protection Act: Legislature: employees.

Existing law provides procedures for a person to file a complaint alleging violations of legislative ethics. Existing law also authorizes each house of the Legislature to adopt rules for its proceedings and to select committees necessary for the conduct of its business. This act would prohibit interference with the right of legislative employees, as defined, to make protected disclosures of ethics violations. It would also prohibit retaliation against legislative employees who have made protected disclosures. This act would establish a procedure for legislative employees to report violations of the act to the Legislature. The act would also impose civil and criminal liability on a person who interferes with a legislative employee's right to make a protected disclosure or who engages in retaliatory acts, as specified. By expanding the scope of crimes under the act, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.