H0139: Adverse Personnel Actions and Ethics Complaints

The bill

Prohibits agencies & independent contractors from taking specified actions against employees for disclosing certain information to Commission on Ethics; requires that information disclosed include specified violations or alleged violations; requires disclosure of specified information to commission; provides that specified provisions protect employees who submit written complaints to commission or provide information to investigator during investigation of complaint or referral; authorizes certain employees to file complaints in accordance with specified provisions; authorizes such employees to pursue specified administrative remedy or civil action within specified timeframe; authorizes local public employees to file complaint with appropriate local governmental authority; specifies requirements for administrative procedures created by local governmental authorities; authorizes such employees to bring civil actions in court of competent jurisdiction under specified conditions; provides that it is affirmative defense to certain actions that adverse personnel action was predicated on grounds other than exercising of certain protected rights; requires commission to deliver complaints & any amendment thereto to agency conducting certain investigation, upon agency's written request; provides that such delivery does not affect specified exemptions in regard to complaint & amendments; requires that such delivery be within reasonable timeframe; requires that commission redact certain information under specified conditions; requires commission to deliver complaints & any amendment thereto to certain persons upon notarized written request.