07 LC 29
2849S/AP
House
Bill 16 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By:
Representatives Golick of the
34th,
Tumlin of the
38th,
Lindsey of the
54th,
Hatfield of the
177th,
Jacobs of the
80th,
and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Code Section 45-1-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
complaints or information from public employees as to fraud, waste, and abuse in
state programs and operations, so as to change certain definitions to include a
broader list of employees, officials, and administrators who may be protected by
the provisions of this Code section; to change the definition of "retaliate"; to
provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Code
Section 45-1-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to complaints
or information from public employees as to fraud, waste, and abuse in state
programs and operations, is amended by revising paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of
subsection (a) as follows:
"(3)
'Public employee' means any person who is employed by the executive, judicial,
or legislative branch of the state or by any other department, board, bureau,
commission, authority, or other agency of the state.
This term also
includes all employees, officials, and administrators of any agency covered
under the State Merit System of Personnel Administration and any local or
regional governmental entity that receives any funds from the State of Georgia
or any state agency.
(4)
'Public employer' means the executive, judicial, or legislative branch of the
state
or;
any other department, board, bureau, commission, authority, or other agency of
the state which employs or appoints a public employee or public
employees; or
any local or regional governmental entity that receives any funds from the State
of Georgia or any state
agency.
(5)
'Retaliate' or 'retaliation' refers to the discharge, suspension, or demotion
by a public employer of a public employee or any other adverse employment action
taken by a public employer against a public employee in the terms or conditions
of employment for disclosing a violation of or noncompliance with a law, rule,
or regulation to either a supervisor or
state
government
agency."
SECTION
2
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.