Committee OKs Whistle Blower Protection Bill

A bill to expand protection for government employees who expose wrongdoing, corruption, ineptness and waste was unanimously approved Wednesday by the Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee.

The measure, introduced by Assemblyman Larry Stirling (R-San Diego) after a Hillcrest mental hospital psychiatrist was stripped of his authority, now goes to the full Assembly.

Some committee members expressed concern that government workers who deserve to be fired may use the protection of the proposed law to shield themselves. But Stirling said the law is designed “to stop . . . reprisals, not to make people immune.” He added, “We’ll never be able to legislate away bad motives by supervisors or employees.”

Since staff psychiatrist Zalman Magid complained last year about the improper administration of drugs to a patient who later died, San Diego County’s Hillcrest hospital has been the target of several investigations. The state auditor general said last year that at least three recent patient deaths “may have been preventable.”