AR HB2183

Amends Arkansas Code § 21-1-602(2) to redefine "appropriate authority" to include the office of the Attorney General, office of the Auditor of State, Arkansas Ethics Commission, Legislative Joint Auditing Committee, Arkansas Legislative Audit, and prosecuting attorneys with power to investigate criminal law enforcement, regulatory violations, professional conduct or ethics, or waste.

Amends Arkansas Code § 21-1-602(8) to allow whistleblowers to report waste or violations to "the appropriate authority" in addition to superiors or agents of the public employer, and changes the timing requirement from "prior to" to "before" any adverse action by the employer.

Increases the reward for state employees who report waste or violations resulting in state fund savings from 10% to 20% of the savings attributable to changes made based on their communication under Arkansas Code § 21-1-603.

Applies the 20% reward increase to Arkansas Code § 21-1-610(d)(2)(A)(iii) governing reward eligibility determinations and reporting requirements for state employees.