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Bill to limit public access to personnel performance records draws split testimony
Summary
Supporters, including city officials, said temporary exemptions are needed to enable merit pay and candid supervision; newspaper groups, state HR and others warned the measure would reduce transparency and could impede hiring for public safety agencies.
Senator Bob Paulson introduced Senate Bill 2350, which would amend North Dakota law to exempt from open‑records disclosure certain employee performance and discipline records for up to three years (or until termination) and extend the period during which internal investigations may remain exempt from 75 days to 180 days.
Senator Paulson said the exemption is intended to allow public employers to pursue merit‑based compensation and to give supervisors space to provide candid corrective feedback without the records immediately becoming public. “I cannot imagine trying to be a leader of people if I knew that everything I put in writing would be available to be read by the entire unit,” Paulson told the committee.
Several municipal officials testified in favor. Minot Alderman Mike Blessum said the bill would let local…
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