Public Safety Free Speech Act

This bill would protect public safety officers from being punished at work for sharing their personal opinions, when not on duty, about things like how public safety services are delivered, pay and benefits, working conditions (such as protective gear, tools, or vehicles), employer policies, job expectations, and even political or religious views. If an employer fires, demotes, or otherwise punishes an employee for this kind of speech, the worker could sue and ask for money to make up for harm, extra damages to punish the employer, a court order to stop the punishment, and payment of lawyer fees.

There are limits. The bill would not protect speech made while on duty; speech that promotes violence or illegal acts; speech that pushes discrimination or favoritism while doing the job; speech that reveals confidential or personal details about people they deal with at work; or calls to slow down or withhold essential services as a protest. It also would not take away rights under other civil rights laws that let people sue for violations of their rights.

• Who is affected: Public safety officers and their employers.
• What changes: Workers could sue if punished for personal opinions on public safety, pay/benefits, working conditions, employer policies, job expectations, or political/religious views; possible outcomes include money for harm, extra damages, a court order to stop the punishment, and lawyer fees.
• What is not protected: On-duty speech; speech that promotes violence/illegal acts; discrimination/favoritism; sharing confidential or personal info; urging delays or cuts to essential services as protest.
• When: Not specified in the text provided.