The bill amends the Whistleblowers' Protection Act to enhance protections for employees who report violations of laws at various levels of government. Key changes include the addition of "planned violation" to the types of violations that can be reported, and the expansion of the definition of "employee" to include independent contractors and prospective employees who have engaged in protected activities. The bill also specifies that employers cannot retaliate against employees for reporting violations, participating in investigations, or refusing to participate in unlawful activities.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision that mandates the state to pay 30% of any recovered funds resulting from an employee's report of a violation to the employee who made the report. It increases the civil fines for violations of the act from a maximum of $500 to $10,000 for each separate violation, and clarifies the process for bringing civil actions under the act, including the right to a jury trial. Overall, these amendments aim to strengthen whistleblower protections and encourage reporting of unlawful activities.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 15.361