Skip to content
Independent and accessible public media is needed more than ever.
Help us continue keeping communities informed and inspired.
Keep public media independent and accessible
Donate Now

View thank you gift options

CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • State Government
  •  

Brown Signs New Whistleblower Protections For Capitol Staff

  •  Ben Bradford 
Monday, February 5, 2018 | Sacramento, CA
melfoody / Flickr
 

melfoody / Flickr

UPDATED 10:41 p.m.

Gov. Jerry Brown has approved new protections for legislative staff who report harassment or abuse at the California Capitol. 

The state Assembly passed the measure without opposition Monday, and Brown signed it in the evening.

“I personally do not know a single woman in the workforce who has not experienced sexual harassment in her career,” Republican Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, the bill’s author, told lawmakers. “I don’t know one.” 

The California labor code already contains protections against retaliation, but the bill adds new penalties for employers who interfere with whistleblowing by legislative staff.

It’s the fourth year in a row the Assembly has passed a version of Melendez’s bill. The state Senate appropriations committee had shelved the measure each time, until the #MeToo movement provided new momentum.

Passed as an urgency measure, the law takes effect immediately with Brown's signature.


(AP) — The California Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a bill granting whistleblower protections to legislative staff members who say they are badly needed to ensure sexual misconduct and other misbehavior can be reported without fear of retaliation.

It will take effect immediately if signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat. The Senate passed it last week after stonewalling a similar measure for four years. Legislative staff members donning black gathered in the Assembly gallery and balcony to watch the debate and planned to rally outside the Capitol to support the bill's passage.

"You're not standing alone," Democratic Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia of Bell Gardens told them from the floor.

The measure comes after legislative leaders on Friday released 11 years' worth of documents outlining sexual misconduct investigations and discipline against lawmakers and staff. Those documents revealed complaints against four sitting lawmakers for behavior ranging from unwanted touching to crude conversations about sex and about a half dozen complaints against staff members. Eight allegations of sexual harassment are pending before the Assembly, according to additional documents.

But critics said the documents do not illustrate the full universe of sexual harassment and misconduct at the Capitol because they did not include complaints that were not investigated. They also said legislative staff members and lawmakers say people often do not support harassment or misconduct because they fear retaliation. Legislative employees are at-will employees who are currently not protected by whistleblower protections given to other state employees.

The Legislature's sexual harassment policies prohibit retaliation, but Assembly lawmakers argued whistleblower protections need to be enshrined in law.

"We owe an apology to the staff; they have long deserved this protection," said Republican Assemblywoman Catharine Baker. "They work hard every day to make sure we look good, we do better and we succeed in representing our districts. Every one of us should have their backs — this institution should have had their backs long ago."

The bill by Republican Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez received renewed attention last fall after nearly 150 women in California politics signed an open letter calling sexual harassment pervasive in the Capitol amid a national awakening on the topic. Two Assembly lawmakers have since resigned and a state senator is on suspension amid an investigation.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    More about We Said Enough

  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    We Said Enough

 whistleblowerCalifornia AssemblyWe Said Enough

Ben Bradford

Former State Government Reporter

As the State Government Reporter, Ben covered California politics, policy and the interaction between the two. He previously reported on local and state politics, business, energy, and environment for WFAE in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Read Full Bio 

 @JBenBradford Email Ben Bradford

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More State Government Stories

Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / CalMatters

State’s juvenile prison workers score $50,000 bonuses

June 19, 2022

Kris Hooks / CapRadio

The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. Here's what it means for California.

June 24, 2022

AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu

How California created the nation’s easiest abortion access — and why it’s poised to go further

June 24, 2022

Most Viewed

The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. Here's what it means for California.

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

Governor Newsom signs bill to shield patients threatened by abortion bans in other states

Hundreds gather in Sacramento to protest Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 vaccines saved about 20 million lives in one year, scientists say

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. Here's what it means for California.

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

Governor Newsom signs bill to shield patients threatened by abortion bans in other states

Hundreds gather in Sacramento to protest Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 vaccines saved about 20 million lives in one year, scientists say

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.