House committee substitute amends the 1st edition as follows.

Modifies the proposed additions to GS 160A-164 to to require 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 (previously, required city councils who do not have a binding personnel policy, code of conduct, or other procedure protecting employees from retaliation to adopt rules and regulations or ordinances the encourage city employees to report to their appropriate authority any evidence of the specified conduct). Adds misappropriation of federal resources to the specified reportable conduct. Requires the ordinances to prohibit retaliation by the city council or any city employee (previously, required the previously described city councils to prohibit retaliation by binding policy). Adds a new provision to specify 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. Changes the notice requirements to now require city councils to post and keep posted a notice explaining the new provisions of the statute, as enacted, in a conspicuous place where city employees are employed and placed in a manner to permit city employees to readily observe the notice (previously directed city councils to publish notice for purposes of informing their employees of their rights and responsibilities under the statute). Additionally, changes the authority granted in existing law to now authorize city councils to adopt or provide for policies, rather than rules and regulations, or ordinances concerning personnel policies.

Changes the act's effective date to October 1, 2021 (was effective on the date the act becomes law).

Changes the act's long title.