KOTOWSKI PROTECTS WHISTLEBLOWERS, STRENGTHENS GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

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KOTOWSKI PROTECTS WHISTLEBLOWERS, STRENGTHENS GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

SPRINGFIELD—State Senator Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) is sponsoring an initiative that will make it easier for local communities to adopt the Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act.

Senate Bill 2044 makes it possible for municipalities, school boards, and other types of local governments to adopt the Whistleblower Act by petition. These governments will still be able to adopt whistleblower protection by ordinance.

“Whistleblowers are an important part of the fight against corruption in government,” said Kotowski. “Voters need to be able to stand up to unethical officials.”

Whistleblowers are people who reveal corruption or other forms of misconduct in government or industry. They are normally employees of the very government or company they are exposing. The Whistleblower Protection Act helps prevent those employees from suffering reprisal from their employers.

Senator Kotowski’s legislation requires a group of concerned citizens to put forward a petition signed by at least 2% of the voters in the last gubernatorial election. If the local government receives the petition within an appropriate timeframe, a referendum question about whistleblower protection will appear on the next ballot.

“Making whistleblower protection a referendum issue strengthens government accountability,” said Kotowski. “I intend to aggressively pursue more ethics legislation and support measures that make government more transparent and answerable to the people.”

Senate Bill 2044 has passed the Illinois Senate and awaits consideration in the House.

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