148-118.8. Appointment, salary, and authority of Executive Director and inmate grievance examiners.

(a) The Grievance Resolution Board, in consultation with the Secretary of Public Safety, shall provide the Governor with at least three nominees, and the Governor shall appoint an Executive Director from those nominees. The Grievance Resolution Board shall appoint grievance examiners. The Executive Director shall manage the staff and perform such other functions as are assigned to the Director by the Grievance Resolution Board. The Executive Director shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The grievance examiners shall serve at the pleasure of the Grievance Resolution Board. The grievance examiners shall be subject to Article 2 of Chapter 126 of the North Carolina General Statutes for purposes of salary and leave. Support staff, equipment, and facilities for the Board shall be provided by the Division of Adult Correction of the Department of Public Safety.

(b) The inmate grievance examiners shall investigate inmate grievances pursuant to the procedures established by the Administrative Remedy Procedure. Examiners shall attempt to resolve grievances through mediation with all parties. Otherwise, the inmate grievance examiners shall either (i) order such relief as is appropriate; or (ii) deny the grievance. The decision of the grievance examiner shall be binding, unless the Secretary of Public Safety (i) finds that such relief is not appropriate, (ii) gives a written explanation for this finding, and (iii) makes an alternative order of relief or denies the grievance.