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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 230-12
June 20, 2012

MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION IMPROVING WHISTLEBLOWER LAWS

Remarks by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

“The next two bills before me today relate to New York City’s whistleblower laws.  The first bill, Introductory Number 816-A, is sponsored by Council Members Garodnick, Halloran, Dromm, Barron, Brewer, Ferreras, Fidler, Gentile, Jackson, James, Koo, Koppell, Lander, Levin, Mark-Viverito, Palma, Rose, Sanders, Seabrook, Van Bramer, Vann, Williams, Rivera, Rodriguez, Foster, Chin, Mealy, Gennaro and Ulrich.  City employees currently have protection from employer retaliation under the City’s whistleblower laws, and this legislation would extend those protections to employees of City contractors and subcontractors working on City contracts valued in excess of $100,000.  Introductory Number 816-A prohibits these contractors from taking any adverse personnel action against an employee who reports fraud or mismanagement.  It also provides for an employee who has been subject to retaliation from a contractor or subcontractor to sue their employer.

The second bill, Introductory Number 479-A, is sponsored by Council Members Garodnick, Barron, Brewer, Chin, Dromm, Ferreras, Fidler, Gennaro, Gentile, Jackson, James, Koppell, Lander, Mark-Viverito, Mealy, Mendez, Palma, Rose, Seabrook, Vann, Williams, Nelson, Foster, Van Bramer, Halloran and Koo.  This legislation requires City contractors and subcontractors having contracts valued in excess of $100,000 to post information notifying their employees of their whistleblower protection rights and the process for reporting misconduct to the Department of Investigation.

Together, these two bills represent great improvements to our whistleblower laws, working to provide more rights and protections to contractors’ employees and ensuring that those employees are aware of their rights.  Sometimes it is those individuals working for City contractors who are in the best position to spot wrongdoing — and the enactment of these bills will encourage them to speak up if they witness malfeasance concerning those contracts.  These measures will help preserve integrity to the City's contracting process, a goal to which our Administration remains committed.

I would like to thank Department of Investigation Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn, Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo, Mayor’s Office of Contract Services Director Andrea Glick, and their staff for their work on this bill, along with my Office of City Legislative Affairs.  I would also like to thank the City Council for approving this legislation.”







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