N.Y. PBA Law § 2986

§ 2986. Whistleblower access and assistance program. 1. Definitions.\na. "Employees of state and local authorities" means those persons\nemployed at state and local authorities, including but not limited to:\nfull-time and part-time employees, those employees on probation, and\ntemporary employees.\n b. "Attorney general" shall mean the attorney general of the state of\nNew York.\n c. "Whistleblower" shall mean any employee of a state or local\nauthority who discloses information concerning acts of wrongdoing,\nmisconduct, malfeasance, or other inappropriate behavior by an employee\nor board member of the authority, concerning the authority's\ninvestments, travel, acquisition of real or personal property, the\ndisposition of real or personal property and the procurement of goods\nand services.\n 2. The director of the authorities budget office, after consultation\nwith the attorney general, shall develop and recommend to the\nlegislature a whistleblower access and assistance program which shall\ninclude, but not be limited to:\n a. evaluating and commenting on whistleblower programs and policies by\nstate and local authorities pursuant to paragraph (e) of subdivision one\nof section twenty-eight hundred twenty-four of this article;\n b. establishing toll-free telephone and facsimile lines available to\nemployees at state and local authorities;\n c. offering advice regarding employee rights under applicable state\nand federal laws and advice and options available to all persons; and\n d. offering an opportunity for employees of state and local\nauthorities to identify concerns regarding any issue at a state or local\nauthority.\n 3. Any communications between an employee and the authorities budget\noffice pursuant to this section shall be held strictly confidential by\nthe authorities budget office, unless the employee specifically waives\nin writing the right to confidentiality, except that such\nconfidentiality shall not exempt the authorities budget office from\ndisclosing such information, where appropriate, to the state inspector\ngeneral in accordance with section fifty-five of the executive law, or\nprevent disclosure to any law enforcement authority.\n