health boards; retaliation; prohibition

HB 2209 prohibits health profession regulatory boards from taking retaliatory actions against health professionals who report misconduct. It protects health professionals, applicants, residents, fellows, and trainees who make "protected disclosures" about violations of law, patient safety risks, misuse of authority, or other misconduct. Key mechanisms include requiring boards to prove non-retaliatory motives if a complaint is filed, allowing civil lawsuits for remedies like reinstated licenses, damages up to $25,000 per violation, and confidential investigations by attorneys general or county attorneys. The law defines retaliatory actions broadly to include license denials, expanded investigations, or public harassment.