SB 1648 - Florida Public Whistleblower's Act

• Redesignates the statute as the "Florida Public Whistleblower's Act" and revises protected disclosures to include reporting of gross mismanagement, malfeasance, misfeasance, gross misconduct, Medicaid fraud, and gross waste of public funds to supervisory officials or appropriate agencies.

• Expands protections to current and former employees and employment applicants of state agencies and independent contractors, defining "retaliatory action" as conduct that may dissuade reasonable employees from reporting violations or protected activity.

• Requires written, signed complaints to be filed with the Chief Inspector General, agency inspector general, Florida Commission on Human Relations, or supervisory officials; information disclosed to other entities does not qualify for protection.

• Extends investigation timelines from 60 to 90 days for agency inspector generals and Chief Inspector General to submit final reports, and from 90 to 120 days for the Florida Commission on Human Relations to determine if reasonable grounds exist for a retaliatory action.

• Establishes procedures for termination of investigations with two categories: termination for no cause (when no reasonable grounds found) and termination with cause (after 60-day resolution attempt fails), allowing complainants to pursue civil action or file with Public Employees Relations Commission.