GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
S	1
SENATE BILL 260

 
 
Short Title:	Review State Government Employment.	()	
Sponsors:	Senators Jordan;  Ballance, Dannelly, Lucas, and Martin of Guilford.	
Referred to:	State and Local Government.	
February 27, 2001

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE REVIEW OF DISPARITIES IN HIRING, COMPENSATION, ADVANCEMENT, AND RETENTION across demographic groups within STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYment.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  By October 1, 2001, the Office of State Personnel (OSP) shall conduct an analysis across demographic groups to determine the existence and extent of disparities in the hiring, compensation, advancement, and retention of State employees within the following occupational categories:
(1)	Officials and administrators.
(2)	Management related.
(3)	Professionals.
(4)	Technical.
(5)	Administrative support.
(6)	Law enforcement.
(7)	Service.
(8)	Skilled craft.
The analysis shall cover employees of State agencies, departments, and institutions and employees at The University of North Carolina and its constituent institutions.
SECTION 1.(b)  The OSP's analysis of State employee hiring, compensation, advancement, and retention across demographic groups in State government employment shall be comprehensive.  The analysis shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
(1)	Whether any disparities in hiring exist among State agencies, departments, and institutions whereby certain demographic groups are underrepresented.
(2)	Relative compensation among the different demographic groups.
(3)	Differences in opportunities for advancement, including the availability of training and promotions and differences in performance ratings.
(4)	Differences regarding the incidence and outcome of disciplinary actions.
(5)	Trends relative to retaining State employees, including the labor market forces affecting retention.
(6)	Trends and issues that may have a negative impact on different demographic groups.
(7)	Factors that may have a unique impact on members of specific demographic groups.
(8)	Factors relating to any adverse patterns that may exist in the terms of conditions of State government employment.
SECTION 2.(a)  There is created the Task Force on State Government Employment ("Task Force"). The Task Force shall review the OSP's analysis of disparities in hiring, compensation, advancement, and retention across demographic groups in State government employment and shall examine possible remedial measures.  The Task Force shall make recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the State Personnel Commission regarding appropriate measures to remedy or lessen any disparities it finds to exist. The Task Force shall be within the Department of Administration for administrative purposes.  The Task Force shall consist of 19 voting members and two ex officio members, as follows:
(1)	Four persons appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be a State employee and one of whom shall be a representative of a statewide organization whose primary purpose is to represent the interests of African‑American citizens.
(2)	Three persons appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be a human resources professional in a private business or firm employing more than 500 employees in this State.
(3)	Three persons appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a human resources professional in a private business or firm employing less than 500 employees in this State.
(4)	Two persons appointed by the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina, including one person associated with a historically African‑American campus.
(5)	One person appointed by each of the following to represent each respective organization:
a.	North Carolina Council for Women.
b.	Governor's Advisory Council on Aging.
c.	Commission of Indian Affairs.
d.	Council on Veterans Affairs.
e.	Governor's Advocacy Council for Persons With Disabilities.
f.	Governor's Advisory Group on Hispanic and Latino Affairs.
g.	North Carolina Human Relations Commission.
(6)	The State Personnel Director and the Chair of the State Personnel Commission, or their respective designees, who shall serve as nonvoting members.
SECTION 2.(b)  All appointments shall be effective September 15, 2001, and an organizational meeting of the Task Force shall be held by October 15, 2001, at which time the Task Force shall elect its chair and vice‑chair from among its members. Subsequent meetings shall be held at the call of the chair. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. Members shall receive subsistence, per diem, and travel allowances as provided by G.S. 138‑5. The appointing authority shall fill vacancies.
SECTION 2.(c)  The OSP's Division of Equal Opportunity Services shall provide staff support to the Task Force. All State agencies shall cooperate with the Task Force and, upon the chair's request, assist the Task Force in the performance of its duties and responsibilities.
SECTION 2.(d)  By May 15, 2002, the Task Force shall complete its review of the OSP's analysis of disparities in hiring, compensation, advancement, and retention across demographic groups in State government employment and shall adopt recommendations to remedy or lessen any disparities found to exist. The Task Force shall expire upon submitting its final report to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the State Personnel Commission.  A copy of the final report shall be provided to the head of each State department, agency, and institution; to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina and the governing board of each constituent university; and to the Fiscal Research Division of the Legislative Services Office.
SECTION 3.  The State Personnel Commission may adopt policies and rules to remedy or lessen disparities across demographic groups based upon the findings of the OSP and the final recommendations of the Task Force.
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.