Title: An act relating to contractors with the state.

Brief Description: Applying whistleblower and discrimination provisions to contractors who hold contracts with the state.

Sponsors: By House Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability (originally sponsored by Representatives Haigh, Nixon, Hudgins, Jarrett, Cody, Haler, Santos and Morrell).

Brief History:

State Government Operations & Accountability: 1/27/06, 1/30/06 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/11/06, 96-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ACCOUNTABILITY

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Haigh, Chair; Green, Vice Chair; Nixon, Ranking Minority Member; Clements, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hunt, McDermott, Miloscia, Schindler and Sump.

Staff: Kasa Tupua (786-7291).

Background:

In 1982, the state whistleblower protection program was established to encourage state employees to disclose improper governmental action and to provide protection to employees who report improper action. Employees who provide information about improper governmental action are protected from retaliatory action, and have remedies available under the Human Rights Commission provisions.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

State whistleblower and discrimination provisions are applied to employees of state contractors. The definition of employee is modified to include an individual employed by a contractor who holds a contract with the state.

The Human Rights Commission provision on discrimination is also modified such that a contractor who holds a contract with the state may not retaliate against his or her employee if that employee files a whistleblower complaint.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Expanding the whistleblower and discrimination provisions to contractors and their employees is important because those who contract for the state should have the same rights and protections as state employees.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Haigh, prime sponsor; Representative Nixon; and Brian Sontag, State Auditor.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.