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With no meaningful state law giving North Carolinians the right to see disciplinary records of those they employ in state and local government jobs, how will we ever know? How will we know about the public school teacher who molested students in numerous mountain schools? About the superintendent of schools in the Piedmont who was fired and paid $250,000 to leave, without so much as a reason? Or about six city police officers who were suspended without pay, leaving the public with a vague explanation that then officers solicited prostitution? We would know, if the Legislature enacts a law opening up personnel records. A bill filed in the North Carolina Senate this legislative session would result in the strongest improvement in decades in the peopleâs right to know in our state.
With no meaningful state law giving North Carolinians the right to see disciplinary records of those they employ in state and local government jobs, how will we ever know?
05/25/2021 by Paul Mauney and Bill Moss, NC PRESS Last week, many newspapers wrapped up coverage of Sunshine Week, a time set aside to promote government accountability through public records and public meetings. In North Carolina, the idea of sunshine has been more aspirational than reality-based. Now though, there is greater cause for celebration than we have seen in a long time, thanks to the introduction on Thursday of Senate Bill 355 The Government Transparency Act of 2021. Primary sponsors of this monumental bill, Sens. Norman Sanderson (R – Carteret, Craven, Pamlico); Bill Rabon (R – Bladen, Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender); and Joyce Krawiec (R – Davie, Forsyth), have filed one of the most important transparency bills in recent history. By providing meaningful public access to personnel records of state and local government employees, the bill would allow North Carolinians to hold elected leaders accountable for the first time when it comes to hiring, firing and other personnel action.
How will we know about the public school teacher who molested students in numerous mountain schools? About the superintendent of schools in the Piedmont who was fired and paid $250,000 to leave, without so much as a reason? Or about six city police officers who were suspended without pay, leaving the public with a vague explanation that the officers solicited prostitution? We would know, if the Legislature enacts a law opening up personnel records. A bill filed in the North Carolina Senate this legislative session would result in the strongest improvement in decades in the people’s right to know in our state.
With no meaningful state law giving North Carolinians the right to see disciplinary records of those they employ in state and local government jobs, how will we ever know? How will we know about the public school teacher who molested students in numerous mountain schools? About the superintendent of schools in the Piedmont who was fired and paid $250,000 to leave, without so much as a reason? Or about six city police officers who were suspended without pay, leaving the public with a vague explanation that the then officers solicited prostitution? We would know, if the legislature enacts a law opening up personnel records. A bill filed in the North Carolina Senate this legislative session would result in the strongest improvement in decades in the people’s right to know in our state.
A measure that would keep charitable donors’ personal information private was approved in the N.C. Senate Tuesday. The 28-21 vote fell along party lines, with Republicans voting in favor of SB636. Despite assertions from some Democrats who said it could shield political “dark money” from public disclosure, the bill does not change the reporting requirements of political campaigns, including campaign finance disclosure laws. Electioneering donations fall under separate rules to ensure a public record of candidates’ financial supporters. S.B. 636 prevents governments from compelling nonprofits to disclose the private information of their donors. It states that the measure “shall not apply to any disclosure of donor information required by this 21 Article or Article 22M of this Chapter.” That N.C. statute is regarding campaign finance disclosure laws.
Guest editorial: Transparency of operations is a constitutional issue Lockwood Phillips, publisher/owner of Carteret County News-Times N.C. Senate Bill 355, legislation that promotes and enhances public access to the performance records of public employees, is generating significant resistance from various state organizations that have several things in common - they are all union related and they are determined to continue operating without public scrutiny. The Government Transparency Act of 2021, championed by Sen. Norman Sanderson, (R), representing the 2nd Senate district of Carteret, Craven and Pamlico counties, has generated a major letter writing and phone campaign to state senators demanding that they vote against the act when it is brought to floor this coming week, just days before the deadline closes for the consideration of all new legislation.
Senate Bill 355, legislation that promotes and enhances public access to the performance records of public employees, is generating significant resistance from various state organizations that have several things in common they are all union related and they are determined to continue operating without public scrutiny. The Government Transparency Act of 2021, championed by Sen. Norman Sanderson, R-Craven, has generated a major letter writing and phone campaign to state senators demanding that they vote against the act when it is brought to floor this coming week, just days before the deadline closes for the consideration of all new legislation. This aggressive opposition raises several questions. What is there to hide? And, why should the employers, N.C. taxpayers, be denied access to the performance records of their employees?
Kinston/Jones Free Press (kfp) A bill filed last month in the North Carolina Legislature that would allow the public greater access to the personnel files of state and local government employees including teachers, law enforcement and city and county workers moved one step closer to passage this week. Senate Bill 355, which would grant public access to information concerning terminations, suspensions and other disciplinary actions, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 27 and now heads to the Rules Committee. If approved by the General Assembly, SB 355 will become effective Dec. 1, 2021 and will directly affect local stories covered by The Free Press involving law enforcement, the school system, and local government personnel.