GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001

HOUSE BILL 1149
RATIFIED BILL

AN ACT AUTHORIZING LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT POLICIES ADDRESSING THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF SCHOOL EMPLOYEES, AND TO CLARIFY THE LAW PROHIBITING RETALIATION AGAINST EMPLOYEES WHO REPORT SEXUAL HARASSMENT. 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Part 8 of Article 22 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes reads as rewritten:
"Part 8. Sexual Harassment Policies.
"§ 115C‑335.5.  Policies addressing harassment of school employees; protection against retaliation for reporting harassment.
(a)	Each local board of education may adopt a policy addressing the sexual harassment of local board employees by students, other local board employees, or school board members. The policy may, at a minimum, set out (i) the consequences of sexually harassing school employees and (ii) a procedure for reporting incidents of sexual harassment.
(b)	No local board of education or employee of a local board shall  discharge, threaten, or otherwise retaliate against another employee of the board regarding that employee's compensation, terms, conditions, location, or privileges of employment because the employee files a written complaint alleging sexual harassment by students, other local board employees, or school board members, unless the employee reporting the harassment knew or  should have known the report was false."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2001.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 30th day of May, 2001.

	_____________________________________
		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

	_____________________________________
		 James B. Black
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	_____________________________________
		 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2001