Bill to shield whistle-blowers

Del. G. Manoli Loupassi, R-Richmond, said a similar incentive saved taxpayers money when he was on City Council.

State employees who blow the whistle on wrongdoings would be shielded from retribution and could get up to $5,000 for the tip under a General Assembly bill filed by Del. G. Manoli Loupassi, R-Richmond.

The Fraud and Abuse Whistle Blower Protection Act would shield from retaliation employees who disclose information in good faith, with the added incentive of up to $5,000 if the revelation saves the state at least $1 million.

An employee could bring civil action over any violation of that protection.

Virginia started the State Employee Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Hotline to report suspected misdeeds in 1992 under then-Gov. L. Douglas Wilder. The hot line, which allows people to remain anonymous, resulted in 599 cases assigned to 64 agencies in fiscal 2007-08, said John Timothy Sadler, audit manager within the Department of Accounts.

The Division of the State Internal Audit administers the hot line, designed to report significant instances of fraud, waste and abuse suspected in executive branch agencies.

Loupassi said there's a better chance of getting credible information from people willing to put their name to a tip. Employees still could use the hot line, or report suspicions to an immediate supervisor or other authorities, Loupassi said. "It gives you the carrot that you don't have now. 'Look, we'll even pay you for it.'"

The former Richmond City Council member said he instigated whistle-blower protection for city employees, which quickly netted savings.

"It's important to me because I think as a policy, the government should establish every reasonable means possible for employees to report the waste of public funds," he said. "It's not just their money, it's all of our money."

Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or .