Sec. 4. (a) Any employee may report in writing the existence of:

(1) a violation of a federal law or regulation;

(2) a violation of a state law or rule;

(3) a violation of an ordinance of a political subdivision (as defined in IC 36-1-2-13); or

(4) the misuse of public resources;

to a supervisor or to the inspector general.

(b) For having made a report under subsection (a), the employee making the report may not:

(1) be dismissed from employment;

(2) have salary increases or employment related benefits withheld;

(3) be transferred or reassigned;

(4) be denied a promotion the employee otherwise would have received; or

(5) be demoted.

(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), an employee must make a reasonable attempt to ascertain the correctness of any information to be furnished and may be subject to disciplinary actions for knowingly furnishing false information, including suspension or dismissal, as determined by the employee's appointing authority, the appointing authority's designee, or the ethics commission. However, any state employee disciplined under this subsection is entitled to process an appeal of the disciplinary action under the procedure as set forth in IC 4-15-2.2-42.

(d) An employer who violates this section is subject to criminal prosecution under IC 35-44.2-1-1.

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.36, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.17-1984, SEC.1; P.L.32-1987, SEC.1; P.L.5-1988, SEC.25; P.L.9-1990, SEC.11; P.L.222-2005, SEC.21; P.L.6-2012, SEC.13; P.L.126-2012, SEC.12.