§232. Article 132. Retaliation

            A. In general. Any person subject to this Code who, with the intent to retaliate against any person for reporting or planning to report a criminal offense, or making or planning to make a protected communication, or with the intent to discourage any person from reporting a criminal offense or making or planning to make a protected communication, wrongfully takes or threatens to take an adverse personnel action against any person or wrongfully withholds or threatens to withhold a favorable personnel action with respect to any person shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

            B. Definitions. In this Article:

            (1) The term "covered individual or organization" means any recipient of a communication specified in clauses (i) through (v) of 10 U.S.C. 1034(b)(1)(B).

            (2) The term "inspector general" has the meaning given that term in 10 U.S.C. 1034(j).

            (3) The term "protected communication" means the following:

            (a) A lawful communication to a member of the United States Congress or an inspector general.

            (b) A communication to a covered individual or organization in which a member of the armed forces complains of, or discloses information that the member reasonably believes constitutes evidence of, any of the following:

            (i) A violation of law or regulation, including a law or regulation prohibiting sexual harassment or unlawful discrimination.

            (ii) Gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.

            (4) The term "unlawful discrimination" means discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

            Acts 2022, No. 672, §1.

NOTE: Former R.S. 29:232 redesignated as R.S. 29:224 by Acts 2022, No. 672, §1.