BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 418
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 1, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                    AB 418 (Mullin) - As Amended:  April 15, 2013 

          Policy Committee:                               
          JudiciaryVote:10-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill:

          1)Requires a state agency to post a graphical link on the  
            homepage of its website to the State Auditor's website that  
            contains information on how to file a complaint pursuant to  
            the California Whistleblower Protection Act.

          2)Requires the graphical link to include the phone number that  
            may be used to make a complaint pursuant to the Act.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          1)Minor absorbable costs to state agencies to revise their  
            homepages.

          2)Workload associated with any additional inquiries to the State  
            Auditor should be minor and absorbable.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose  . According to the author, although existing law  
            requires state offices to post notices regarding the  
            protections afforded state employees by the California  
            Whistleblower Protection Act, "the public is not made aware of  
            the existence of the [California] Whistleblower Protection Act  
            through its most visited state Internet Web sites."

           2)Background.   The Act authorizes the State Auditor to receive  
            and investigate complaints of alleged improper governmental  
            activities, and also protects every state employee who files a  








                                                                  AB 418
                                                                  Page  2

            complaint from suffering any retaliation by his or her state  
            employer for having made the complaint.  State employees,  
            internal auditors of state agencies, and any persons obtaining  
            services from the State, including contractors who do business  
            with the state and job applicants, may file a complaint under  
            the Act with the State Auditor.

            According to the State Auditor's annual report, from April 1,  
            2011, through June 30, 2012, the office received 7,238 calls  
            or inquiries.  Of these, 5,781 came through the hotline, 891  
            through the mail, 559 through the state auditor's Web site,  
            and seven through individuals who visited the State Auditor's  
            office.  
            
           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081