JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Missouri House has approved legislation that could make it harder for employees to be shielded from retaliation by their employer for reporting wrongdoing in the workplace.

In an 86-66 vote Thursday, the House approved a measure that limits "whistleblower" status to employees who report or refuse to carry out illegal acts. The bill also caps the amount of punitive damages a person can recover if a company retaliates against the whistleblower.

The House added an amendment that applies the measure to all private businesses. The original bill applied only to businesses with six or more employees.

The bill now goes to the Senate, which approved a similar measure as part of a larger business bill earlier this year.

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Whistleblower bill is HB2099

Online:

Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov