(a)        The sovereign immunity of the State is waived for the limited purpose of allowing State employees, except for those in exempt policy-making positions designated pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 126-5(d), to maintain lawsuits in State and federal courts and obtain and satisfy judgments against the State or any of its departments, institutions, or agencies under:

(1)        The Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201, et seq.

(2)        The Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621, et seq.

(3)        The Family and Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2601, et seq.

(4)        The Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.

(b)        The amount of monetary relief a State employee receives under subsection (a) of this section shall not exceed the amounts authorized under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-299.2 or the amounts authorized under the applicable federal law under this section, whichever is less. (2001-467, s. 1.)