House committee substitute makes the following changes to the 2nd edition.

Amends GS 126-7.1(e) to require that state employees be given priority in hiring when the state employee has substantially equal qualifications (was, greater qualifications) as an applicant who is not a state employee. Also amends the hiring priority in subsection (f) to the substantially equal standard in situations where the employee applies for an opening in state government or applies for a position as a result of being RIF'd (reduction in force). Rewrites subsection (g) to amend part of the definition of qualificationsused in this section from "years of applicable experience" to "years of experience."

Amends GS 126-14.2 to state that it is state policy that state departments, agencies, and institutions select the most qualified persons (was, select from the pool of qualified persons) for state government employment.

Amends GS 126-24(2a), amended in this act, to allow employee personnel files to be opened for inspection and examination by a potential state or local government supervisor, during the interview process, only with regard to performance management documents (was, with regard to performance management documents and disciplinary actions).