House committee substitute amends the 2nd edition as follows.

Amends the proposed changes to GS 160A-164 as follows. Instead of requiring city councils to adopt an ordinance to establish a procedure for and to encourage city employees to report to their appropriate authority evidence of the previously specified conduct, now requires a council that does not have a binding personnel policy, code of conduct, or other procedure protecting employees from retaliation to adopt rules and regulations or ordinances encouraging city employees to report evidence of the specified conduct. Makes conforming changes. Amends the activities that are to be reported to remove misappropriation of federal resources and include any activity that poses a substantial or specific danger (was, substantial and specific danger) to public health and safety, and makes other clarifying changes. Requires the council, by binding policy, to prohibit any employee from taking action against another employee who reported any of the described activities (was, required the ordinance to prohibit retaliation by the city council or any city employee against an employee who reports or intends to report on the described activities). Deletes the provision specifying that the statute does not bar disciplinary action against an employee who makes a report the employee knows or has reason to know is inaccurate. Amends the notice requirement to now require notice to be published according to GS 95-9 (requiring employers to post in every room where five or more persons are employed a printed notice stating the provisions of the law relative to the employment of adult persons and children and the regulation of  hours and working conditions) or other appropriate means, to keep city employees informed of their rights and responsibilities under these provisions. Adds that filing a false report is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Changes the act's effective date from October 1, 2021, to December 1, 2021.

Changes the act's long title.