Creating Whistleblower Protection Fund Act

SB 212 creates a Whistleblower Protection Fund to support public awareness campaigns encouraging the reporting of unethical or illegal practices in clinical inpatient medical treatment centers, office-based medication-assisted treatment programs, and opioid treatment programs. The fund, administered by the Office of the Inspector General, will be financed through legislative appropriations, donations, public health grants, and other sources. It requires the Office of the Inspector General to run advertising campaigns (including social media, materials, and ads) promoting whistleblower protections and to report annually on campaign activities, report volumes, and outcomes to the Joint Standing Committee on Health. This bill directly affects healthcare facilities covered under the law and aims to reduce retaliation against whistleblowers while improving patient safety.