GA SB117

Agents of public employers who retaliate against whistleblower employees will be guilty of a misdemeanor offense under the new provisions

Courts are now required to award attorney's fees, court costs, and expenses to prevailing public employees in whistleblower retaliation cases (changed from discretionary "may" to mandatory "shall")

Public employees are protected from retaliation for disclosing violations of laws, rules, or regulations to supervisors or government agencies, as well as for refusing to participate in activities they reasonably believe violate the law

Covered employees include those working for state executive, judicial, or legislative branches, plus employees of any local or regional government entity receiving state funds

Employees who experience retaliation may sue in superior court within one year of discovering the retaliation or three years after it occurred, and may receive reinstatement, back pay, benefits, and compensatory damages