In Illinois, it is prohibited for a unit of local government, any agent or representative of a unit of local government, or another employee to retaliate against an employee or contractor who:
Public Act 101-0652, known as the SAFE-T ACT, amended the Illinois Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act, 50 ILCS/105/4.1, to add a whistleblower statute effective on July 1, 2021. The whistleblower statute created new whistleblower protections for government employees. The statute requires each local government unit to identify an “auditing official.”
The auditing official is the local state’s attorney if the local government does not designate an auditing official.
(1) reports an improper governmental action;
(2) cooperates with an investigation by an auditing official related to a report of improper governmental action; or
(3) testifies in a proceeding or prosecution arising out of improper governmental action. The Cook County State's Attorney's Office serves as the "auditing official" for any local unit of government that has not designated an auditing official.
An employee of any local unit of government that has not designated an auditing official who believes they have been retaliated against in violation of the law should call the Cook County State's Attorney's Office at 773-674-2728.