The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Subchapter
004A
:
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION
(Cite as: 3 V.S.A. § 974)
-
§ 974. Communication with General Assembly
(a) No entity of State government may prohibit a State employee from engaging in discussion
with a member of the General Assembly or from testifying before a legislative committee;
provided, however, that an employee may not divulge confidential information, and
an employee shall be clear that he or she is not speaking on behalf of an entity of
State government.
(b) No State employee shall be subject to discipline, discharge, discrimination, or other
adverse employment action as a result of the employee providing information to a legislator
or legislative committee; provided, however, that the employee does not divulge confidential
information, and that the employee is clear that he or she is not speaking on behalf
of any entity of State government. The protections set forth in this subchapter shall
not apply to statements that constitute hate speech or threats of violence against
a person.
(c) In the event that an appearance before a Committee of the General Assembly will cause
an employee to miss work, he or she shall request to be absent from work and shall
provide as much notice as is reasonably possible. The request shall be granted unless
there is good cause to deny the request. If a request is denied, the decision and
reasons for the denial shall be in writing and shall be provided to the employee in
advance of the scheduled appearance. The protections set forth in this section are
subject to the efficient operation of State government, which shall prevail in any
instance of conflict. (Added 2007, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 13, 2008.)