GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 928

Short Title:  State Political Hiring Limited.	(Public)

─────────────────────────────────────── 
Sponsors: Representatives Russell; Aldridge, Culp, Ellis, McMahan, Pate, Rayfield, Sexton, Sherrill, and Thompson.

─────────────────────────────────────── 
Referred to:  State Government.

─────────────────────────────────────── 

April 12, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT AMENDING THE STATE PERSONNEL ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE NONPOLITICAL SELECTION OF THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSONS FOR STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT BY LIMITING POLITICAL HIRINGS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Chapter 126 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 126-14.2.  Political hirings limited; policy; rules.
(a)	It is the policy of this State that State departments, agencies, and institutions select the most qualified persons for State government employment based upon job-related qualifications of applicants for employment and not based upon political affiliation, except that certain policy-making positions in State government employment may be filled on bases including political affiliation where the General Assembly has expressly authorized such hirings.
(b)	The personnel policies and procedures of each State department, agency, and institution shall be updated to implement the policy of nonpolitical hiring set forth in subsection (a) of this section.
(c)	The personnel policies and procedures of the legislative and judicial branches shall be updated to implement nonpolitical hirings in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.
(d)	The Office of State Personnel shall provide training to State supervisory personnel that is designed to carry out the intent of subsection (a) of this section.
(e)	The State Personnel Commission shall adopt rules to:
(1)	Assure that State departments, agencies, and institutions follow the same selection process when hiring State employees;
(2)	Encourage open competition for positions in State government employment;
(3)	Broaden the advertisement of job openings in State government employment and lengthen the period for submitting applications for State government employment; and
(4)	Require that State supervisory personnel responsible for hiring State employees must execute for each new hire a certification indicating that the hiring decision was made in accordance with State personnel policies and was not made on the basis of patronage."
Sec. 2.  G.S. 126-5 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"( c6)	Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, G.S. 126-14.2 shall apply to all State employees, public school employees, and community colleges employees."
Sec. 3.  This act is effective upon ratification.