A 7482

This bill establishes a comprehensive nuclear whistleblower access and assistance program to protect employees who report safety concerns at nuclear power facilities in New York State. The program, to be created by the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority in consultation with federal and state agencies, requires nuclear facility operators to implement whistleblower protections and provides employees with toll-free hotlines to report safety issues confidentially, access to legal advice about their rights, and protection from workplace retaliation. The legislation empowers whistleblowers to pursue litigation without first exhausting administrative remedies and authorizes the attorney general to enforce anti-retaliation provisions, ensuring that workers at both public and private nuclear facilities can freely report safety concerns without fear of reprisal. This aims to enhance nuclear safety by encouraging employees with firsthand knowledge of potential hazards to come forward with critical information that could protect public health and safety.