Expanded whistleblower rights and definitions pass House

OLYMPIA — The House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation Tuesday that strengthens the protections for whistleblowers and expands the definition of “improper governmental actions.”

Senate Bill 6776, sponsored by Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, reinforces the legal procedural rights that individuals have when they report improper governmental action. Whistleblowers can report directly to the State Auditor and are not required to go up their agency’s chain of command.

“The State Auditor has traditionally been the one to receive the complaint,” said Kline. “But many don’t know this and so they report up the chain of command thinking that’s how you’re supposed to report the incident.”

The legislation also clearly defines abuse of authority, gross mismanagement, and other terms used in the law. At the request of environmental activists, the definition of “improper governmental actions” is expanded to include any action by government that prevents a scientific opinion from being circulated or alters technical findings without scientifically valid justification.

“There is no evidence that it has happened in one of our agencies, but I believe it has happened at the federal level,” said Kline. “And I think our scientists in state employment are due a kind of assurance that it’s not going to happen here.”

SB 6776 unanimously passed the Senate on Feb. 18, and amendments made in the House must be approved by the Senate before Governor Gregoire can sign the bill into law. The 2008 session is scheduled to adjourn March 13.

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