Los Angeles Municipal Code

Chapter IV, Article 9.5
SEC. 49.5.4.  PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEES AGAINST RETALIATION FOR REPORTING FRAUD, WASTE OR MISUSE OF OFFICE.

A.     No officer or employee of the City shall use or threaten to use any official authority or influence to discourage, restrain or interfere with any other person for the purpose of preventing such person from acting in good faith to report or otherwise bring to the attention of the City Ethics Commission or other appropriate agency, office or department any information which, if true, would constitute: a work-related violation by a City officer or employee of any law or regulation, gross waste of City funds, gross abuse of authority, a specified and substantial danger to public health or safety due to an act or omission of a City official or employee, use of a City office or position or of City resources for personal gain, or a conflict of interest of a City officer or employee.

B.     No officer or employee of the City shall use or threaten to use any official authority or influence to effect any action as a reprisal against a City officer or employee who reports or otherwise brings to the attention of the Commission or other appropriate agency, office or department any information regarding the subjects described in Subsection A.
 
C.     Any person who believes that he or she has been subjected to any action prohibited by this section may file a confidential complaint with the City Ethics Commission.  The City Ethics Commission shall thereupon investigate the complaint.  Upon the conclusion of its investigation, the Commission shall take appropriate action as otherwise provided by law.   (Amended by Ord. No. 168,708, Eff. 5/13/93.)

D.     In the event the Executive Officer of the City Ethics Commission determines the Commission has a conflict of interest in an investigation of a retaliation complaint, City Ethics Commission staff shall refer the investigation of the retaliation complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunities Section of the Human Resources and Benefits Division of the City Personnel Department.  That agency shall report its findings to the City Attorney who shall take appropriate action as otherwise provided by law.  (Added by Ord. No. 168,708, Eff. 5/13/93.)