BILL ANALYSIS


                                                     C.S.S.B. 411
                                                     By: Montford
                                                    State Affairs
                                                         05-05-95
                                   Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND

Chapter 554 of the Government Code, referred to as the
"Whistleblower" statute, provides a cause of action to an employee
who is terminated, suspended, or discriminated against for
reporting a violation of the law.  The act allows employees to sue
for injunctive relief, actual damages, exemplary damages, court
costs and attorneys' fees.  In addition, employees may sue for
reinstatement and compensation for lost wages and fringe benefits.

Recent suits filed under the Whistleblower Act have resulted in
large verdicts against state and local governments.  The statute
does not contain any limits on the amounts recoverable on the
damages.

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 411 sets forth protective measures for a
public employee who reports a violation of law and provides a cap
on damages.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 554.001, Government Code, to define
"local governmental entity," "personnel action," "state
governmental entity," and to redefine "law," and "public employee." 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 554.002, Government Code, as follows:

     Sec. 554.002.  RETALIATION PROHIBITED FOR REPORTING VIOLATION
     OF LAW.  (a) Created from existing text.  Prohibits a state or
     local governmental entity (governmental entity) from taking
     adverse personnel action, rather than discriminating, against
     a public employee who reports a violation of law by the
     employing governmental entity or another public employee to a
     law enforcement authority.
     
     (b) Provides that a report is made to an appropriate law
       enforcement authority if the authority meets certain
       criteria.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 554.003, Government Code, as follows:

     Sec. 554.003.  RELIEF AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEE.  (a)
     Deletes a provision including exemplary damages in the list of
     items for which a public employee whose employment is
     suspended or terminated or who is subjected to an adverse
     personnel action is entitled to sue.
     
     (b) Entitles a public employee whose employment is suspended
       or terminated in violation of this chapter to reinstatement
       in an equivalent position or in the employee's former
       position.
       
       (c) Sets forth limits for the amounts a public employee may
       recover compensatory and nonpecuniary damages in a suit
       against an employing governmental entity.
       
       (d) Provides that if more than one subdivision of Subsection
       (c) applies to an employing governmental entity, the amount
       of monetary damages that may be recovered from the entity is
       governed by the provision that provides the highest damage
       award.
SECTION 4. Amends Chapter 554, Government Code, by adding Section
554.0035, as follows:

     Sec. 554.0035.  WAIVER OF IMMUNITY.  Authorizes a public
     employee who alleges a violation of this chapter to sue the
     employing governmental entity.  Provides that sovereign
     immunity is waived and abolished to the extent of liability
     for the relief allowed for a violation of this chapter.
SECTION 5. Amends Section 554.004, Government Code, as follows:

     Sec. 554.004.  New title:  BURDEN OF PROOF; PRESUMPTION;
     AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE.  (a) Created from existing text.  Makes
     conforming changes.
     
     (b) Provides that it is an affirmative defense to a suit
       that the employing governmental entity would have taken the
       action against the employee that forms the basis of the suit
       based solely on information unrelated to the fact that the
       employee made a report protected under this chapter.
SECTION 6. Amends Section 554.006, Government Code, as follows:

     Sec. 554.006.  New title:  USE OF GRIEVANCE OR APPEAL
     PROCEDURES.  (a) Requires a public employee to initiate action
     under, rather than exhaust, the grievance or appeal procedures
     of the employing governmental entity before suing.  Makes
     conforming changes.
     
     (b) Makes a nonsubstantive change.
       
       (c) Makes conforming changes.
       
       (d) Authorizes the employee to take certain actions if a
       final decision is not rendered before the 61st day after the
       procedures are initiated.
SECTION 7. Amends Section 554.007, Government Code, to authorize
a public employee of a state governmental entity to sue in a
district court of the county in which the cause of action arises or
in Travis County, rather than in which the employee resides.
Authorizes a public employee of a local governmental entity to sue
under this chapter in certain district courts.

SECTION 8. Amends Section 554.008, Government Code, by amending
Subsection (a) and by adding Subsections (d) and (e), as follows:

     (a) Provides that a supervisor in violation of this chapter is
     liable for a civil penalty of up to $5,000, rather than
     $1,000.  Makes conforming changes.
     
     (d) Requires a civil penalty to be paid by the supervisor and
     prohibits it from being paid by the employing governmental
     entity.
     
     (e) Limits the personal liability of an individual to the
     civil penalty.
SECTION 9. Amends Section 554.009(a), Government Code, to make
conforming changes.

SECTION 10.    Amends Chapter 554, Government Code, by adding
Section 554.010, as follows:

     Sec. 554.010. AUDIT OF STATE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY AFTER SUIT.
     (a) Requires the attorney general, at the conclusion of a suit
     against a state governmental entity subject to audit under
     Section 321.013 and in which the entity is required to pay
     $10,000 or more under the terms of a settlement agreement or
     final judgment, to provide to each member of the legislative
     audit committee a brief memorandum describing the facts and
     disposition of the suit.
     
     (b) Authorizes the committee, no later than 90 days after
       the last member of the legislative audit committee receives
       the memorandum required by Subsection (a), to direct the
       state auditor to audit or investigate the state governmental
       entity.
       
       SECTION 11.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 12.    Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.