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

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

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Terms Used In Indiana Code 4-15-10-4

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appointing authority: means the individual or group of individuals who have the power by law or by lawfully delegated authority to make appointment to a position in an agency. See Indiana Code 4-15-10-1
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Employee: means an employee of an agency except an elected official. See Indiana Code 4-15-10-1
  • in writing: include printing, lithographing, or other mode of representing words and letters. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Supervisor: means an individual who oversees the daily activity of an employee. See Indiana Code 4-15-10-1
(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.