Report Title:

Whistleblowers' Protection Act; Expanding Protection

Description:

Expands the protection provided under the Whistleblowers' Protection Act for employees who report situations that demonstrate danger to public health and safety, which they observe during the course of their work.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1491

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to the whistleblowers' protection act.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 378-62, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§378-62 Discharge of, threats to, or discrimination against employee for reporting violations of law. An employer shall not discharge, threaten, or otherwise discriminate against an employee regarding the employee's compensation, terms, conditions, location, or privileges of employment because:

(1) The employee, or a person acting on behalf of the employee, reports or is about to report to the employer, or reports or is about to report to a public body, verbally or in writing[, a violation or a suspected violation of]:

(A) A violation or a suspected violation of:

(i) A law, rule, ordinance, or regulation, adopted pursuant to law of this State, a political subdivision of this State, or the United States; or

[(B)](ii) A contract executed by the State, a political subdivision of the State, or the United States[,]; or

(B) Information demonstrating danger to public health and safety,

unless the employee knows that the report is false; or

(2) An employee is requested by a public body to participate in an investigation, hearing, or inquiry held by that public body, or a court action."

SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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