Revised Code of Washington Chapter 42.41 — Local Government Whistleblower Protection

Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 42.41 · 9 active provisions

Wash. Rev. Code § 42.41.010

Policy

It is the policy of the legislature that local government employees should be encouraged to disclose, to the extent not expressly prohibited by law, improper governmental actions of local government officials and employees. The purpose of this chapter is to protect local government employees who make good-faith reports…

WashingtonLocal Government Whistleblower Protectioneffective

Wash. Rev. Code § 42.41.020

Definitions

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1)(a) "Improper governmental action" means any action by a local government officer or employee:(i) That is undertaken in the performance of the officer's or employee's official duties, whether or not the actio…

WashingtonLocal Government Whistleblower Protectioneffective

Labor & Employment

Wash. Rev. Code § 42.41.030

Right to report improper governmental action—Policies and procedures

(1) Every local government employee has the right to report to the appropriate person or persons information concerning an alleged improper governmental action.(2) The governing body or chief administrative officer of each local government shall adopt a policy on the appropriate procedures to follow for reporting such…

WashingtonLocal Government Whistleblower Protectioneffective

Wash. Rev. Code § 42.41.040

Retaliatory action unlawful—Relief by whistleblower—Penalty

(1) It is unlawful for any local government official or employee to take retaliatory action against a local government employee because the employee provided information in good faith in accordance with the provisions of this chapter that an improper governmental action occurred.(2) In order to seek relief under this c…

WashingtonLocal Government Whistleblower Protectioneffective

Courts & Civil Procedure

Wash. Rev. Code § 42.41.045

Prohibition on intimidation of whistleblower—Nondisclosure of protected information

(1) A local government official or employee may not use his or her official authority or influence, directly or indirectly, to threaten, intimidate, or coerce an employee for the purpose of interfering with that employee's right to disclose information concerning an improper governmental action in accordance with the p…

WashingtonLocal Government Whistleblower Protectioneffective

Wash. Rev. Code § 42.41.050

Exemptions

Any local government that has adopted or adopts a program for reporting alleged improper governmental actions and adjudicating retaliation resulting from such reporting shall be exempt from this chapter if the program meets the intent of this chapter.

WashingtonLocal Government Whistleblower Protectioneffective

Wash. Rev. Code § 42.41.060

Local government administrative hearings account

The local government administrative hearings account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from penalties in RCW 42.41.040 and the surcharges under RCW 43.09.2801 shall be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for administrative hearings under this chapter.…

WashingtonLocal Government Whistleblower Protectioneffective

Government Administration

Wash. Rev. Code § 42.41.900

Construction

This chapter shall not be construed to permit disclosures that would diminish the rights of any person to the continued protection of confidentiality of communications where statute or common law provides such protection.

WashingtonLocal Government Whistleblower Protectioneffective

Wash. Rev. Code § 42.41.901

Effective dates—1992 c 44

Sections 1 through 10 of this act shall take effect January 1, 1993. Section 11 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1992.

WashingtonLocal Government Whistleblower Protectioneffective