SB 299

Amends GS 126-23 regarding required State personnel recordkeeping by each department, agency, institution, commission and bureau of the State, to require records to show the date and general description of the reasons for each promotion, demotion, dismissal, transfer, suspension, or separation (dismissals, suspensions, and demotions were previously separated and required stated disciplinary reasoning). No longer requires keeping records for suspension or demotion for disciplinary reasons of a copy of the written notice of the final decision of the head of the department setting forth the specific acts or omissions that are the basis of the dismissal. Adds that nothing in the statute authorizes the disclosure of any confidential information protected by HIPAA, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or other applicable law. Requires that for the general descriptions of the reason for each promotion, demotion, dismissal, transfer, suspension, or separation: (1) no general description can disclose information otherwise prohibited from disclosure by an applicable law; and (2) the general description must become part of the record upon the later of the expiration of the time period to file an appeal or a final decision being entered in that administrative appeals process. Amends GS 126-22 by amending the term employee to mean any current State employee, former State employee, or application for State employment subject to Article 7, The Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records. Amends the term employer, defined as any State department, university, divisions, bureau, commission, council or other agency subject to Article 7, by specifying that university includes the Board, the Board of Trustees, Chancellor, constituent institutions, and the President.