§ 116-37.3.  Personnel of Dental School Clinical Operations at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

(a) UNC-CH Dental School Clinical Operations. - For purposes of this section, the term "UNC-CH Dental School Clinical Operations" refers to a division of the Adams School of Dentistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that operates clinical programs and facilities in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and across the State for the purpose of providing medical care to the general public and training dentists and other health care professionals.

(b) Personnel. - Employees of UNC-CH Dental School Clinical Operations shall be deemed to be employees of the State and shall be subject to all provisions of State law relevant thereto; provided, however, that except as to the provisions of Articles 5, 6, 7, and 14 of Chapter 126 of the General Statutes, the provisions of Chapter 126 of the General Statutes shall not apply to employees of UNC-CH Dental School Clinical Operations, and the policies and procedures governing the terms and conditions of employment of such employees shall be adopted by the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; provided, that with respect to such employees as may be members of the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, no such policies and procedures may be inconsistent with policies established by, or adopted pursuant to delegation from, the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina. Such policies and procedures shall be implemented on behalf of UNC-CH Dental School Clinical Operations by a personnel office maintained by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. [The following provisions apply:]

(1) The board of trustees shall fix or approve the schedules of pay, expense allowances, and other compensation, and adopt position classification plans for employees of UNC-CH Dental School Clinical Operations.

(2) The board of trustees may adopt or provide for rules and regulations concerning, but not limited to, annual leave, sick leave, special leave with full pay, or with partial pay supplementing workers' compensation payments for employees injured in accidents arising out of and in the course of employment, working conditions, service awards, and incentive award programs, grounds for dismissal, demotion, or discipline, other personnel policies, and any other measures that promote the hiring and retention of capable, diligent, and effective career employees. However, an employee who has achieved career State employee status as defined by G.S. 126-1.1 by June 30, 2022, shall not have his or her compensation reduced as a result of this subdivision. Further, an employee who has achieved career State employee status as defined by G.S. 126-1.1 by June 30, 2022, shall be subject to the rules regarding discipline or discharge that were effective on June 30, 2022, and shall not be subject to the rules regarding discipline or discharge adopted after June 30, 2022.

(3) The board of trustees may prescribe the office hours, workdays, and holidays to be observed by the various offices and departments of UNC-CH Dental School Clinical Operations.

(4) The board of trustees may establish boards, committees, or councils to conduct hearings upon the appeal of employees who have been suspended, demoted, otherwise disciplined, or discharged, to hear employee grievances, or to undertake any other duties relating to personnel administration that the board of trustees may direct.

The board of trustees shall submit all initial classification and pay plans, and other rules and regulations adopted pursuant to subdivisions (1) through (4) of this subsection, to the Office of State Human Resources for review upon adoption by the board. Any subsequent changes to these plans, rules, and policies adopted by the board shall be submitted to the Office of State Human Resources for review. Any comments by the Office of State Human Resources shall be submitted to the Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the President of The University of North Carolina. (2022-74, s. 8.4(a).)