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Committee advances whistleblower protections for public employees filing ethics complaints
Summary
CS for SB 92, introduced by Senator Gates, would protect public employees from retaliation when they file firsthand ethics complaints and allow administrative or civil remedies; the Florida Commission on Ethics testified in support and the committee reported the bill favorably.
CS for SB 92 would extend workplace protections to public employees who file firsthand ethics complaints, allowing the Florida Commission on Ethics to investigate alleged retaliation and giving employees administrative or civil remedies including potential reinstatement or recovery of pay. Senator Gates described the bill as ensuring that employees who "see firsthand an ethics violation" can report it without fear of adverse personnel action and said the act of retaliation would itself be an ethics violation subject to investigation.
Carrie Stillman, executive director of the Florida Commission on Ethics, testified that the Commission has recommended these protections for several years and expressed support for the bill. There was no recorded opposition and no amendments; the committee voted to report the bill favorably.
