This bill proposes several updates to current statutes regarding the protection of employees who provide testimony in proceedings related to law enforcement officers' disciplinary actions. It introduces new provisions that prohibit agencies, employers, or political subdivisions from taking retaliatory actions against employees for providing such testimony. Specifically, it states that any action attempting to obstruct or prohibit an employee from testifying is void and unenforceable. Additionally, the bill defines "retaliatory action" to include various adverse employment actions such as transfer, demotion, or termination.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing language to clarify that all hearings related to these proceedings are open to the public, with executive sessions limited to legal advice or deliberations. It also adds a statutory reference to the definition of the prosecuting agency's rule 15.1 database and makes technical changes to ensure consistency throughout the statute. Overall, these updates aim to enhance protections for employees involved in the disciplinary appeal process for law enforcement officers.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 38-1106