NC H835

Designates North Carolina's Human Relations Commission as the state deferral agency for employment discrimination charges under Section 706 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for employers with 15+ employees

Authorizes the Commission to contract with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to investigate and resolve employment discrimination complaints filed within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory action

Establishes procedures for complaint investigation (within 30 days), determination of reasonable grounds (within 90 days), conciliation efforts, and appeals including civil actions in superior court and administrative hearings before the Office of Administrative Hearings

Permits civil penalties up to $10,000 for first violations, $25,000 for one prior violation within 5 years, and $50,000 for two or more violations within 7 years; allows awards of compensatory and punitive damages plus attorney fees

Appropriates $788,076 in recurring funds for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 to fund four new positions: Program Assistant IV, two Human Relations Specialists I, and Administrative Assistant; effective January 1, 2020