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The Vermont Statutes Online
Title
03
:
Executive
Chapter
027
:
STATE EMPLOYEES LABOR RELATIONS ACT
Subchapter
004A
:
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION
§
974. Communication with general assembly
(a) No entity of
state government may prohibit a state employee from engaging in discussion with
a member of the general assembly or from testifying before a legislative
committee; provided, however, that an employee may not divulge confidential
information, and an employee shall be clear that he or she is not speaking on
behalf of an entity of state government.
(b) No state
employee shall be subject to discipline, discharge, discrimination, or other
adverse employment action as a result of the employee providing information to
a legislator or legislative committee; provided, however, that the employee
does not divulge confidential information, and that the employee is clear that
he or she is not speaking on behalf of any entity of state government. The
protections set forth in this subchapter shall not apply to statements that
constitute hate speech or threats of violence against a person.
(c) In the event
that an appearance before a committee of the general assembly will cause an
employee to miss work, he or she shall request to be absent from work and shall
provide as much notice as is reasonably possible. The request shall be granted
unless there is good cause to deny the request. If a request is denied, the
decision and reasons for the denial shall be in writing and shall be provided
to the employee in advance of the scheduled appearance. The protections set
forth in this section are subject to the efficient operation of state
government, which shall prevail in any instance of conflict. (Added 2007, No.
128 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 13, 2008.)