Berger Files Bill To Increase Transparency In State Personnel Laws

Raleigh, N.C. – Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) filed a bill this week that would provide additional transparency in regards to state employee personnel files.  The legislation would provide additional information related to employment and retirement benefits including salary and employment histories, disciplinary actions such as suspensions or firings, and hiring information about successful job applicants. 

In March of this year, the News & Observer ran a series of stories detailing the state’s personnel laws which have remained largely unchanged since 1975 and are among the most secretive in the nation.  The newspaper noted, “The result is that the public often receives little information regarding employees who have received big pay raises over several years, were hired through patronage or nepotism, or behaved badly on the job.”  (“Bill on personnel records planned,” News & Observer, 3/19/10)  A bill adding the provisions contained in Berger’s legislation would constitute a major overhaul of North Carolina’s personnel law. 

Senator Berger has referred to the example of a public school teacher who was twice suspended from her New Hanover County teaching job for inappropriate contact with a 15-year-old student and later hired by Pitt County officials with no knowledge of her previous employment history.  She is now serving prison time for taking indecent liberties with a minor.  Information about her disciplinary history would have been available under Berger’s proposed legislation.

Senator Berger said, “Opening state personnel records will help address some of the mistakes and corruption we have seen in state government.  This common sense legislation will provide needed transparency in state employee records.  For too long the public’s right to know and, sometimes, public safety have been at risk because of overly secretive personnel statutes.”

Read Senator Berger’s bill here: http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/PDF/S1433v0.pdf

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