SUICIDE BY EMPLOYEES.

SEC. 105. [5 U.S.C. 1212 note] SUICIDE BY EMPLOYEES. (a) Referral.—The head of an agency shall refer to the Special Counsel, along with any information known to the agency regarding the circumstances described in paragraphs (2) and (3), any instance in which the head of the agency has credible information indicating— (1) an employee of the agency committed suicide; (2) prior to the death of the employee, the employee made any disclosure of information which reasonably evidences— (A) any violation of any law, rule, or regulation; or (B) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; and (3) after a disclosure described in paragraph (2), a personnel action was taken against the employee. (b) Office of Special Counsel Review.—For any referral to the Special Counsel under subsection (a), the Special Counsel shall— (1) examine whether any personnel action was taken because of any disclosure of information described in subsection (a)(2); and (2) take any action the Special Counsel determines appropriate under subchapter II of chapter 12 of title 5, United States Code. (c) Permission of Next of Kin.—The head of the agency shall only make a referral under subsection (a) regarding an employee after receiving written permission from the next of kin, as such term is defined in section 6381 of title 5, United States Code, of the employee.