Senate leaders say the ethics bill they rolled out Tuesday would make public the salary and employment histories of nearly all state and local employees.
If approved, the changes to the state's personnel law would end the secrecy over basic information that most states provide.
The changes would make public employees' pay raises or reductions, as well as any promotions, demotions or suspensions.
But the legislation would not make public other records pertaining to disciplinary actions, nor would it shed more light on hiring decisions.
Senate Majority Leader Martin Nesbitt, an Asheville Democrat, said the personnel law changes walked a "very tight line" between protecting employees' rights and providing transparency on personnel matters.
"Obviously, this is a step forward," Nesbitt said. "We are attempting to get you what you need to be able to track the employment histories of employees while at the same time protecting those rights that we can for employees."
Open government advocates agreed the personnel provisions were a significant step toward more transparency, but they would like to see more.
John Bussian, an attorney and lobbyist representing the N.C. Press Association, which includes The News & Observer, said lawmakers should make details of disciplinary actions public. Currently, the only way those actions become public is if an agency decides to release the information to protect the agency's reputation, or if an employee contests the discipline or firing in court.
"That's where we need to be," he said, "because that's when the public really has oversight of their government."
Nesbitt said the bill did not go that far because he and others were worried that it could lead to the release of "frivolous complaints" against employees.
A recent N&O series, "Keeping Secrets," showed the consequences of the secrecy surrounding personnel matters. They included improper hires, employees dismissed for serious misconduct with no reason given, and questionable pay raises and pensions. In one high-profile case, a schoolteacher had been twice suspended from one district for improper contact with a student, only to move to another district without those disciplinary actions being disclosed.
That teacher, Jessica Wishnask, is now in prison after being caught having sex with the student.
If the legislation becomes law, the changes would take effect Oct. 1. There has been some resistance to the changes in the House, particularly from Rep. Paul Stam, an Apex Republican and the chamber's minority leader.
Staff writer Michael Biesecker contributed to this report.
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