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2007 SESSION

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070856299
HOUSE BILL NO. 2731 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled January 10, 2007 A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-1512.4 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.2-2902.2, relating to rights of public employees to express opinions to public officials. ---------- Patrons-- Englin and Albo ---------- Referred to Committee on General Laws ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 15.2-1512.4 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 2.2-2902.2, as follows:

§ 2.2-2902.2.  Rights of state employees to contact public officials.

Nothing in this chapter or Chapter 12 (§ 2.2-1200 et seq.) of this title shall be construed to prohibit or otherwise restrict the right of any state employee to express opinions to state or local public officials or officers on matters of public concern, nor shall a state employee be subject to acts of retaliation because the employee has expressed such opinions.

For the purposes of this section "matters of public concern" means those matters of interest to the community as a whole, whether for social, political, or other reasons, and shall include discussions that disclose any (i) evidence of corruption, impropriety, or other malfeasance on the part of government officials; (ii) violations of law; or (iii) incidence of fraud, abuse, or gross mismanagement.

§ 15.2-1512.4. Rights of local employees to contact public officials.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit or otherwise restrict the right of any local employee to express opinions to state or local elected public officials or officers on matters of public concern, nor shall a local employee be subject to acts of retaliation because the employee has expressed such opinions.

For the purposes of this section, "matters of public concern" means those matters of interest to the community as a whole, whether for social, political, or other reasons, and shall include discussions that disclose any (i) evidence of corruption, impropriety, or other malfeasance on the part of government officials; (ii) violations of law; or (iii) incidence of fraud, abuse, or gross mismanagement.