This bill seeks to strengthen protections for employees, public officers, and independent contractors against retaliation for engaging in protected activities, such as reporting ethics violations. It introduces a new section, 112.3242, which explicitly prohibits agencies and independent contractors from retaliating against employees for disclosing certain information. The bill outlines the rights of employees to file complaints and seek remedies for adverse actions, emphasizing that initiating adverse personnel actions against those who report violations constitutes a breach of public trust. Additionally, it amends section 112.324 to require the Commission on Ethics to provide copies of complaints to the Public Employees Relations Commission upon request, while maintaining existing exemptions related to those complaints.

The legislation establishes a structured process for handling complaints related to prohibited personnel actions, requiring complaints to be filed within 60 days of the alleged retaliation. The Commission on Ethics must acknowledge receipt of complaints within five working days and is tasked with conducting informal investigations and issuing reports within 180 days. The bill ensures that employees cannot face disciplinary action for reporting during the investigation and grants complainants the right to appeal commission decisions, along with provisions for judicial review of final orders. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.