Over the past few months, I’ve talked to a number of local government employees who are beginning to experiment with generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT (among many others) to do their work. Some local governments in North Carolina … Read more

Last summer, the legislature passed Session Law (S.L.) 2023-95, which amended G.S. 122C-53(a), the North Carolina statute governing the release of confidential information about patients receiving behavioral health services, including mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) care. Specifically, the … Read more

Spoiler alert: yes! Local health directors are appointed public officials who must take an oath of office. But what makes a local health director a public official? And which oath of office should they take? Let’s discuss.

After an approximately four-year tenure, the town manager files a confidential report claiming a hostile work environment. The town manager’s attorney negotiates a settlement agreement in which the town manager agrees to resign and not bring future legal claims against … Read more

The Machinery Act makes it clear that the “governing board” (aka the board of county commissioners or the city council) has the sole authority to appoint and remove both assessors and tax collectors. GS 105-294 and -349.   But the statutes … Read more

Children and teens who are in the custody of a county DSS are (or have been alleged to be) abused, neglected, and/or dependent. While in out-of-home placements, these children experience (1) ongoing separation from their families and communities (e.g., parents, … Read more

Last August, following a legislative override of the Governor’s veto, the General Assembly passed Session Law 2023-106. Part III of the session law, which is the focus of this bulletin, amends Chapter 90, Article 1A of the North Carolina General … Read more