S 3286

This bill establishes a comprehensive nuclear whistleblower access and assistance program in New York State to protect employees who report safety concerns at nuclear power plants from retaliation and to encourage the reporting of potential safety issues. The program, to be created by the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority in coordination with nuclear facility operators, requires establishment of toll-free hotlines for anonymous reporting, provides legal protections and advice to whistleblowers, and mandates investigation of reported safety concerns. The legislation empowers whistleblowers with the right to pursue litigation without exhausting administrative remedies and authorizes the Attorney General to enforce anti-retaliation provisions, thereby creating multiple layers of protection for employees who identify safety problems at both publicly and privately owned nuclear facilities in the state.