§ 153A-99. County employee political activity. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 153A‑99.  County employee political activity.

(a)        Purpose.  The purpose of this section is to ensure thatcounty employees are not subjected to political or partisan coercion whileperforming their job duties, to ensure that employees are not restricted frompolitical activities while off duty, and to ensure that public funds are notused for political or partisan activities.

It is not the purpose of this section to allow infringement upon therights of employees to engage in free speech and free association.  Everycounty employee has a civic responsibility to support good government by everyavailable means and in every appropriate manner.  Employees shall not berestricted from affiliating with civic organizations of a partisan or politicalnature, nor shall employees, while off duty, be restricted from attendingpolitical meetings, or advocating and supporting the principles or policies ofcivic or political organizations, or supporting partisan or nonpartisancandidates of their choice in accordance with the Constitution and laws of theState and the Constitution and laws of the United States of America.

(b)        Definitions.  For the purposes of this section:

(1)        "County employee" or "employee" meansany person employed by a county or any department or program thereof that issupported, in whole or in part, by county funds;

(2)        "On duty" means that time period when an employeeis engaged in the duties of his or her employment; and

(3)        "Workplace" means any place where an employeeengages in his or her job duties.

(c)        No employee while on duty or in the workplace may:

(1)        Use his or her official authority or influence for thepurpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election ornomination for political office; or

(2)        Coerce, solicit, or compel contributions for political orpartisan purposes by another employee.

(d)        No employee may be required as a duty or condition ofemployment, promotion, or tenure of office to contribute funds for political orpartisan purposes.

(e)        No employee may use county funds, supplies, or equipment forpartisan purposes, or for political purposes except where such political usesare otherwise permitted by law.

(f)         To the extent that this section conflicts with theprovisions of any local act, local ordinance, resolution, or policy, thissection prevails to the extent of the conflict. (1991, c. 619, s. 1; 1993, c. 298, s. 1.)