BILL REQ. #:  S-0177.1 

Read first time 01/13/2005.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to requiring a review of the local government whistleblower program; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The joint legislative audit and review committee shall review the local government whistleblower program. The committee, in its review, shall consider, but not be limited to, the following factors: The effectiveness of local reporting policies and investigation procedures including the officers responsible for investigations; the role county prosecutors play in employee whistleblower investigations; internal conflicts of interest within the local government agency that may prevent robust investigation of reports of improper governmental action; employee awareness of the whistleblower program; employee confidence in program performance; the effectiveness of the retaliatory action complaint process; and the feasibility of providing an independent party to receive the report of improper governmental action and/or conduct the investigation. The committee shall make recommendations regarding improvements to better facilitate the reporting and investigation of improper governmental action in local governments. The committee shall provide a final report on this review by December 1, 2006.