The Whistleblower Act -- Chapter 42.40 RCW -- was enacted by the Washington State Legislature in 1982 and amended in 1999 and 2008. The Whistleblower Act provides an avenue for state employees to report suspected improper governmental action. All reports of suspected improper governmental actions must be reported directly to the Office of the State Auditor.
Improper governmental action is defined as the following:
(6)(a) "Improper governmental action" means any action by an employee undertaken in the performance of the employee's official duties:
(i) Which is a gross waste of public funds or resources as defined in this section;
(ii) Which is in violation of federal or state law or rule, if the violation is not merely technical or of a minimum nature;
(iii) Which is of substantial and specific danger to the public health or safety;
(iv) Which is gross mismanagement;
(v) Which prevents the dissemination of scientific opinion or alters technical findings without scientifically valid justification, unless state law or a common law privilege prohibits disclosure. This provision is not meant to preclude the discretion of agency management to adopt a particular scientific opinion or technical finding from among differing opinions or technical findings to the exclusion of other scientific opinions or technical findings. Nothing in this subsection prevents or impairs a state agency's or public official's ability to manage its public resources or its employees in the performance of their official job duties. This subsection does not apply to de minimis, technical disagreements that are not relevant for otherwise improper governmental activity. Nothing in this provision requires the auditor to contract or consult with external experts regarding the scientific validity, invalidity, or justification of a finding or opinion; or
(vi) Which violates the administrative procedure act or analogous provisions of law that prohibit ex parte communication regarding cases or matters pending in which an agency is party between the agency's employee and a presiding officer, hearing officer, or an administrative law judge. The availability of other avenues for addressing ex parte communication by agency employees does not bar an investigation by the auditor.
(b) "Improper governmental action" does not include personnel actions, for which other remedies exist, including but not limited to employee grievances, complaints, appointments, promotions, transfers, assignments, reassignments, reinstatements, restorations, reemployments, performance evaluations, reductions in pay, dismissals, suspensions, demotions, violations of the state civil service law, alleged labor agreement violations, reprimands, claims of discriminatory treatment, or any action which may be taken under chapter 41.06 RCW, or other disciplinary action except as provided in RCW 42.40.030.
The confidentiality of an employee who reports improper governmental conduct to the Auditor or other public official is protected regardless of whether an investigation is initiated. State law also prohibits retaliation against people who file whistleblower assertions. The Human Rights Commission investigates retaliation cases.