Senate committee substitute to the 3rd edition removes the content of the previous edition and replaces it with the following. Makes conforming changes to the act’s titles.

Amends GS 95-242 as follows. Adds the requirement that a complaint filed with the Commissioner of Labor by an employee alleging a violation of GS 95-241 (which prohibits discriminating or taking any retaliatory action against an employee who takes the listed actions) include the ten listed items, including specified contact information for the complainant and respondent, a statement of the facts on the protected activity engaged in by the complainant before the alleged retaliatory action, and a description of the alleged retaliatory action and any relevant facts known to the plaintiff that would explain in a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the adverse employment action. Requires a written authorization to also be filed when someone other than the complainant files the complaint. Sets out a procedure for when a complainant files a partial complaint. Specifies that the complaint can be filed on a form through the Department of Labor’s website, by email, or by email. Specifies that a copy of the full complaint (was, copy of the complaint) must be forwarded to the person alleged to have committed the violation. Prohibits considering any extraneous material that is submitted with the complaint and requires that information be destroyed; the extraneous material is also not public record and not subject to inspection or examination. Allows the respondent to submit a statement of their defense within seven days of receiving the complaint. Clarifies that this provision does not prevent the Commissioner of Labor from stating an investigation before receiving a response from the respondent.

Enacts new GS 95-246 requiring that time is to be computed under Article 21, Retaliatory Employment Discrimination, of GS Chapter 95, according to GS 1A-1, Rule 6.