S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4458
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
April 6, 2011
___________
Introduced by Sens. SAVINO, KLEIN, CARLUCCI, VALESKY -- read twice and
ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
Civil Service and Pensions
AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to the reporting of
improper governmental actions by legislative employees
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 75-b of the civil
service law, as amended by chapter 899 of the laws of 1986, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) A public employer shall not dismiss or take other disciplinary or
other adverse personnel action against a public employee regarding the
employee's employment because the employee discloses to a governmental
body information: (i) regarding a violation of a law, rule or regulation
which violation creates and presents a substantial and specific danger
to the public health or safety; or (ii) which the employee reasonably
believes to be true and reasonably believes constitutes an improper
governmental action. "Improper governmental action" shall mean any
action by a public employer or employee, or an agent of such employer or
employee, which is undertaken in the performance of such agent's offi-
cial duties, whether or not such action is within the scope of his OR
HER employment, and which is in violation of any federal, state or local
law, rule or regulation. FURTHERMORE, WITH REGARD TO DISCLOSURES BY
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, "IMPROP-
ER GOVERNMENTAL ACTION" SHALL ALSO INCLUDE ANY ACTION OR ACTIVITY TAKEN
BY A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE OR BY A LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEE, AS DEFINED
IN PARAGRAPH (C) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION SEVENTY-THREE OF THE
PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW, WHICH VIOLATES OR MAY VIOLATE ANY PROVISION OF THE
LEGISLATIVE LAW, THE PENAL LAW OR THE ARTICLE FOUR OF THE PUBLIC OFFI-
CERS LAW THAT IS REPORTED TO A GOVERNMENTAL BODY, INCLUDING THE COMMIS-
SION ON PUBLIC INTEGRITY AND THE LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMISSION.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10649-01-1
S. 4458 2
S 2. Section 75-b of the civil service law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 5 to read as follows:
5. EVERY PUBLIC EMPLOYER THAT IS PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF THE
STATE SHALL INFORM ITS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES OF THEIR RIGHTS, DUTIES AND
PROTECTIONS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, BY CONSPICUOUSLY POSTING A WRITTEN
NOTICE THEREOF. SUCH NOTICES SHALL BE POSTED IN EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND
WELL-LIT LOCATIONS CUSTOMARILY FREQUENTED BY SUCH EMPLOYEES AND APPLI-
CANTS FOR EMPLOYMENT.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
have become a law.