Article 3.5. Whistleblower Information of California Government Code >> Division 1. >> Title 2. >> Chapter 6.5. >> Article 3.5.

For purposes of this article, "state agency" means every state office, officer, department, division, bureau, board, and commission, including the California State University, the University of California, the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the superior courts, and the Administrative Office of the Courts.

No later than April 1, 2002, the State Auditor shall prepare for state employees a written explanation of the California Whistleblower Protection Act contained in Article 3 (commencing with Section 8547). The explanation shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:
  (a) Instructions on how to contact the State Auditor by mail or telephone.
  (b) A general overview of improper governmental activities and examples of three of the most common types of improper governmental activities that may be reported to the State Auditor.
  (c) Examples of two of the most commonly reported governmental activities that the State Auditor does not have authority to investigate.
  (d) An explanation of whistleblower protection available to state employees who report improper governmental activities to the State Auditor.
  (e) The requirement that the State Auditor protect the anonymity of a person who reports improper governmental activity to the State Auditor.
  (f) The State Auditor's authority in connection with violations of law discovered during an investigation of improper governmental activities.

The State Auditor shall prepare for distribution to each state agency in an electronic format a notice containing the information in the written explanation prepared pursuant to Section 8548.1. No later than July 1, 2002, each state agency shall print and post this notice at its state office or offices in a location or locations where employee notices are maintained. A state agency shall not edit the written text of the notice but it may publish the notice in a manner it chooses, and it may include its own introductory language in the notice, provided that the language and the format selected do not alter the meaning of the notice. In addition, whenever a state agency posts or advertises the opportunity to submit whistleblower complaints through a program administered by the agency, it shall also disclose the opportunity to submit complaints to the State Auditor under the California Whistleblower Protection Act (Article 3 (commencing with Section 8547)).

On July 1, 2002, and annually thereafter, every state agency shall send the information contained in the notice by electronic mail to its employees who have authorized access to electronic mail from the agency.

The California State Auditor shall post the information described in Section 8548.1 on the Internet Web site of the California State Auditor's Office.

The intentional failure of a state agency to comply with any provision of this article shall constitute an improper governmental activity for purposes of Article 3 (commencing with Section 8547).