SB 0481 Summary

• Creates an Office of the State Employee Ombudsman within the legislative council to investigate complaints from state employees regarding administrative acts, violations of law, threats to public health or safety, and gross mismanagement of public funds.

• Ombudsman appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the legislative council; has authority to access records, conduct investigations, hold informal hearings, and request testimony from individuals.

• Ombudsman must provide complainants with resolution reports within 30 days of completing investigations and submit findings reports to the council; maintains confidentiality of complainants and investigation details except as necessary to perform duties.

• State departments and agencies prohibited from penalizing complainants or obstructing ombudsman investigations; ombudsman must consult with agencies before publicly criticizing them and include agency responses in adverse publications.

• Ombudsman must publish annual website reports containing complaint statistics, incident types, resolution timelines, and repeat complaint percentages; violations of the act punishable by up to one year imprisonment or $1,000 fine; act takes effect 90 days after enactment.