The bill SF No 475 is designed to strengthen whistleblower protections for public employees in Minnesota. It amends existing statutes by defining terms like "abuse," "fraud," and "waste," and specifies actions that are considered violations. Ultimately, the bill makes it illegal for employers to retaliate against employees in scenarios where they report violations or concerns about misuse of resources, fraudulent activities, or other abuses within state agency programs or by political subdivisions.

Key points include: 1. Abuse is defined as actions leading to unnecessary costs due to improperly paying for items or services not legally entitled. 2. Fraud involves intentional deceit to obtain property, money, or benefits and failing to correct record errors promptly after notification by a state agency. 3. Waste refers to practices resulting in needless costs, like misusing resources.

The bill prohibits employer actions such as firing, penalizing, or discriminating against employees for: - Reporting legal violations or unethical practices. - Participating in investigations. - Refusing orders to perform actions believed to be illegal. - Reporting compromised health care service quality. - Communicating accurate scientific or technical findings. - Reporting fraud, waste, or abuse in government programs.

Overall, the bill aims to protect public employees who act in good faith to report wrongdoing, thereby promoting accountability and integrity within public services.