Article 14.

Protection for Reporting Improper Government Activities.

§ 126A-14-1.  Statement of policy.

(a) It is the policy of the State that employees shall have a duty to report verbally or in writing to their supervisor, agency head, or other appropriate authority, evidence of activity by an agency or an employee constituting any of the following:

(1) A violation of State or federal law, rule, or regulation.

(2) Fraud.

(3) Misappropriation of State resources.

(4) Substantial and specific danger to the public health and safety.

(5) Gross mismanagement, a gross waste of monies, or gross abuse of authority.

(b) Further, it is the policy of this State that employees be free of intimidation or harassment when reporting to public bodies about matters of public concern, including offering testimony to or testifying before appropriate legislative panels, or providing statements or testimony to agents and employees of legislative panels duly appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives designated to conduct inquiries on behalf of a legislative panel.  (2026-40, s. 1.)