Opinion ID: 2226536
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Overview of Whistleblower Act

Text: The NEOC asserts that § 81-2707(1) of the Whistleblower Act is unconstitutional because it permits an officer of the legislative branch of state government to encroach upon the prerogatives and duties of the executive branch, in violation of the separation of powers clause of Neb. Const. art. II, § 1. Section 81-2705 sets forth the conduct that is prohibited under the Whistleblower Act. That section states in pertinent part that any person who has authority to take or effect personnel action shall not, with respect to such authority, take such personnel action against an employee because of the employee's disclosure of information, submission of allegations of wrongdoing, or providing of information or testimony to the Ombudsman or other official. The term personnel action is defined broadly in § 81-2703(4) to encompass virtually any action in the workplace which might adversely affect the employee. Sections 81-2706 and 81-2707(1) are challenged by the NEOC. Section 81-2706(1) states that [t]he [Ombudsman] shall receive any allegation of a violation of section 81-2705 and investigate to determine whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has occurred or is about to occur. Section 81-2706(4) then goes on to provide in pertinent part that if the Ombudsman finds there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of § 81-2705 has occurred, he or she shall transmit his or her findings in writing to the Governor and to the State Personnel Board. Finally, section 81-2707(1) states in pertinent part: Upon receiving the [Ombudsman's] finding that there is reason to believe a violation of section 81-2705 has occurred or is about to occur, the State Personnel Board ... shall, without further proceedings, stay or reverse the personnel action until a hearing can be held to determine if there is reason to believe that a violation of section 81-2705 is contemplated or has occurred. Such board ... shall, at the earliest possible date, hold a hearing to determine whether a violation has occurred or is about to occur. (Emphasis supplied.)