This bill aims to strengthen employee protections by amending laws related to public officers, employees, and local government attorneys. It introduces a definition for "adverse personnel action" and establishes that taking such actions against employees who engage in protected activities, like reporting violations to the Commission on Ethics, is a breach of public trust. The bill prohibits retaliation by agencies and independent contractors against employees for disclosing certain information and outlines the rights of employees to file complaints and seek remedies for adverse actions resulting from their disclosures. It also mandates that the Commission on Ethics provide copies of complaints to the Public Employees Relations Commission upon request and requires the commission to acknowledge receipt of complaints and conduct informal investigations within specified timelines.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a process for employees or independent contractors who experience retaliation to file a complaint within 60 days of the adverse action. The Commission is required to acknowledge receipt of the complaint within five working days and provide relevant information to the employer. It grants the commission investigative powers, including the ability to issue subpoenas and create fact-finding reports with recommendations for corrective action. If the commission finds reasonable grounds for a prohibited action, it must report this along with its findings to the relevant parties. The bill also includes provisions for the termination of investigations and the right to appeal for complainants, with an effective date set for January 1, 2027.