ATLANTA - The state House on Monday unanimously passed a bill to block retaliation against employees of county and city governments who report public corruption.

Cosponsored by Cobb legislators Rep. Rich Golick (R-Smyrna) and Rep. Steve Tumlin (R-Marietta), the bill guarantees public employees - such as public school teachers, firefighters and police officers - are protected from demotion, suspension, transfer or termination from their job if they inform a public employer of any fraud, waste and abuse involving programs or operations under municipal government jurisdiction.

Golick said the bill catches up with a comprehensive ethics reform bill that was signed by Gov. Sonny Perdue in 2005 that granted such protection to state government employees. He said equal defense at the municipal level was pushed out during that legislative session because lawmakers were fearful of sharp increases in litigation.

"There may have been a concern about the floodgates opening up with litigation, but that hasn't happened," Golick said. "Ultimately, this bill would protect the integrity of local governments, including Cobb County. No one has anything to fear."

Golick added that he doesn't expect a panic among local governments fearful of costly litigation or corrupt employees or operations. He said the legislation would help defend against "those rare bad apples" among what he called the state's "ethically sound" municipalities.

"Local government has a more direct impact on people's lives," he said. "But we want (public employees) to never be afraid of coming forward in the off-chance they need to report corruption."

Cobb Commission Chairman Sam Olens said he believes the whistleblower protection bill is necessary among communities.

"I think employees should always be protected," he said. "Cobb County never opposed the bill."

The bill now goes to the Senate for approval. Tuesday marks day 29 of the General Assembly's 40-day legislative session.

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