Source: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.40&full=true
Timestamp: 2019-08-18 19:27:11
Document Index: 198631651

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 508', '§ 1', '§ 3', '§ 510', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 2', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 7', '§ 4', '§ 5', '§ 6', '§ 8', '§ 9', '§ 7']

RCWs > Title 42 > Chapter 42.40
42.40.010 Policy.
42.40.020 Definitions.
42.40.030 Right to disclose improper governmental actions—Interference prohibited.
42.40.035 Duty of correctness—Penalties for false information.
42.40.040 Report of improper governmental action—Investigations and reports by auditor, agency.
42.40.050 Retaliatory action against whistleblower—Remedies.
42.40.070 Summary of chapter available to employees.
42.40.080 Contracting for assistance.
42.40.090 Administrative costs.
42.40.100 Assertions against auditor.
42.40.110 Performance audit.
42.40.910 Application of chapter.
RCW 42.40.010
It is the policy of the legislature that employees should be encouraged to disclose, to the extent not expressly prohibited by law, improper governmental actions, and it is the intent of the legislature to protect the rights of state employees making these disclosures, regardless of whether an investigation is initiated under RCW 42.40.040. It is also the policy of the legislature that employees should be encouraged to identify rules warranting review or provide information to the rules review committee, and it is the intent of the legislature to protect the rights of these employees.
[ 2017 c 44 § 1; 1995 c 403 § 508; 1982 c 208 § 1.]
Right to disclose improper governmental actions—Interference prohibited.
(1) An employee shall not directly or indirectly use or attempt to use the employee's official authority or influence for the purpose of intimidating, threatening, coercing, commanding, influencing, or attempting to intimidate, threaten, coerce, command, or influence any individual for the purpose of interfering with the right of the individual to: (a) Disclose to the auditor (or representative thereof) or other public official, as defined in RCW 42.40.020, information concerning improper governmental action; or (b) identify rules warranting review or provide information to the rules review committee.
(2) Nothing in this section authorizes an individual to disclose information otherwise prohibited by law, except to the extent that information is necessary to substantiate the whistleblower complaint, in which case information may be disclosed to the auditor or public official, as defined in RCW 42.40.020, by the whistleblower for the limited purpose of providing information related to the complaint. Any information provided to the auditor or public official under the authority of this subsection may not be further disclosed.
[ 2008 c 266 § 3; 1995 c 403 § 510; 1989 c 284 § 2; 1982 c 208 § 3.]
[ 1999 c 361 § 2.]
RCW 42.40.070
Summary of chapter available to employees.
A written summary of this chapter and procedures for reporting improper governmental actions established by the auditor's office shall be made available by each department or agency of state government to each employee upon entering public employment. Such notices may be in agency internal newsletters, included with paychecks or stubs, sent via electronic mail to all employees, or sent by other means that are cost-effective and reach all employees of the government level, division, or subdivision. Employees shall be notified by each department or agency of state government each year of the procedures and protections under this chapter. The annual notices shall include a list of public officials, as defined in RCW 42.40.020, authorized to receive whistleblower reports. The list of public officials authorized to receive whistleblower reports shall also be prominently displayed in all agency offices.
[ 2008 c 266 § 5; 1989 c 284 § 5; 1982 c 208 § 7.]
RCW 42.40.080
Contracting for assistance.
The auditor has the authority to contract for any assistance necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
[ 1999 c 361 § 4.]
RCW 42.40.090
The cost of administering this chapter is funded through the auditing services revolving account created in RCW 43.09.410.
[ 1999 c 361 § 5.]
RCW 42.40.100
Assertions against auditor.
A whistleblower wishing to provide information under this chapter regarding asserted improper governmental action against the state auditor or an employee of that office shall provide the information to the attorney general who shall act in place of the auditor in investigating and reporting the matter.
[ 1999 c 361 § 6.]
RCW 42.40.110
The office of financial management shall contract for a performance audit of the state employee whistleblower program on a cycle to be determined by the office of financial management. The audit shall be done in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001. The audit shall determine at a minimum: Whether the program is acquiring, protecting, and using its resources such as personnel, property, and space economically and efficiently; the causes of inefficiencies or uneconomical practices; and whether the program has complied with laws and rules on matters of economy and efficiency. The audit shall also at a minimum determine the extent to which the desired results or benefits established by the legislature are being achieved, the effectiveness of the program, and whether the auditor has complied with significant laws and rules applicable to the program.
The cost of the audit is a cost of operating the program and shall be funded by the auditing services revolving account created by RCW 43.09.410.
[ 1999 c 361 § 8.]
RCW 42.40.910
Chapter 266, Laws of 2008 and chapter 361, Laws of 1999 do not affect the jurisdiction of the legislative ethics board, the executive ethics board, or the commission on judicial conduct, as set forth in chapter 42.52 RCW. The senate, the house of representatives, and the supreme court shall adopt policies regarding the applicability of chapter 42.40 RCW to the senate, house of representatives, and judicial branch.
[ 2008 c 266 § 9; 1999 c 361 § 7.]