N.Y. Public Authorities Law § 2986: Whistleblower access and assistance program

§ 2986. Whistleblower access and assistance program. 1. Definitions.

a. "Employees of state and local authorities" means those persons

employed at state and local authorities, including but not limited to:

full-time and part-time employees, those employees on probation, and

temporary employees.

b. "Attorney general" shall mean the attorney general of the state of

New York.

c. "Whistleblower" shall mean any employee of a state or local

authority who discloses information concerning acts of wrongdoing,

misconduct, malfeasance, or other inappropriate behavior by an employee

or board member of the authority, concerning the authority's

investments, travel, acquisition of real or personal property, the

disposition of real or personal property and the procurement of goods

and services.

2. The director of the authorities budget office, after consultation

with the attorney general, shall develop and recommend to the

legislature a whistleblower access and assistance program which shall

include, but not be limited to:

a. evaluating and commenting on whistleblower programs and policies by

state and local authorities pursuant to paragraph (e) of subdivision one

of section twenty-eight hundred twenty-four of this article;

b. establishing toll-free telephone and facsimile lines available to

employees at state and local authorities;

c. offering advice regarding employee rights under applicable state

and federal laws and advice and options available to all persons; and

d. offering an opportunity for employees of state and local

authorities to identify concerns regarding any issue at a state or local

authority.

3. Any communications between an employee and the authorities budget

office pursuant to this section shall be held strictly confidential by

the authorities budget office, unless the employee specifically waives

in writing the right to confidentiality, except that such

confidentiality shall not exempt the authorities budget office from

disclosing such information, where appropriate, to the state inspector

general in accordance with section fifty-five of the executive law, or

prevent disclosure to any law enforcement authority.