§ 55. Responsibilities of covered agencies, state officers and
employees. 1. Every state officer or employee in a covered agency shall
report promptly to the state inspector general any information
concerning corruption, fraud, criminal activity, conflicts of interest
or abuse by another state officer or employee relating to his or her
office or employment, or by a person having business dealings with a
covered agency relating to those dealings. The knowing failure of any
officer or employee to so report shall be cause for removal from office
or employment or other appropriate penalty. Any officer or employee who
acts pursuant to this subdivision by reporting to the state inspector
general improper governmental action as defined in section
seventy-five-b of the civil service law shall not be subject to
dismissal, discipline or other adverse personnel action.

2. The head of any covered agency shall advise the governor within
ninety days of the issuance of a report by the state inspector general
as to the remedial action that the agency has taken in response to any
recommendation for such action contained in such report.