Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ethics And Transparency topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lawmakers and DNR staff raise alarm after executive branch removes boilerplate whistleblower language
Summary
Members of the House Appropriations subcommittee and DNR officials discussed removal of boilerplate section 207, which lawmakers said had provided protections for employees communicating with legislators; DNR staff said the removal was an EOG decision and staff reported fear of discipline when contacting lawmakers.
Several members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee pressed DNR leadership about removal of a boilerplate provision (section 207) that lawmakers said protected employee communications with legislators and provided whistleblower safeguards.
Representative Green asked why the executive branch removed section 207 from department boilerplate, saying staff had told members they feared discipline for contacting lawmakers. “Why is the executive branch chosen to limit transparency in the government and to limit its employees' representation by removing section 207 from the boilerplate?” Green asked.
Jason Crandall, the DNR budget officer, told the committee the decision to strike the provision was made at the Executive Office of the Governor level: “It was a statewide decision,” he said, and added he could not speak to broader state implications. Several legislators, including Representative McKinney, corroborated that state employees had approached them confidentially to report concerns and that protections were a reason the boilerplate had existed.
Chair Borton said he has received reports from DNR employees who asked to remain anonymous, telling the chair they feared discipline if their communications were discovered. The chair said the subcommittee will continue to compile and review those reports and hold future discussions.
Context and next steps: Committee members said the issue extends beyond the DNR and indicated the subcommittee will follow up. DNR staff confirmed the removal of section 207 was an Executive Office of the Governor decision; no legislative action on restoring the boilerplate occurred during the hearing.
Ending: Members asked staff and legislators to compile anonymous reports and return to the issue in a future hearing where they will seek more information on the implications of the boilerplate removal for employee protections and agency transparency.
