SB565: Bill Text

SB565,,1 2023 SENATE BILL 565

October 23, 2023 - Introduced by Senators Larson, Agard, Hesselbein and Spreitzer, cosponsored by Representatives Cabrera, Sinicki, Baldeh, Joers, Ohnstad, Palmeri and Shankland. Referred to Committee on Labor, Regulatory Reform, Veterans and Military Affairs.

SB565,,2 An Act to repeal 20.865 (1) (dm), 20.928 (1f), 230.01 (2) (bm), 230.01 (2) (bp), 230.04 (13m), 230.04 (19), 230.05 (10), 230.06 (1) (m), 230.06 (4), 230.13 (3) (c), 230.15 (6), 230.15 (7), 230.16 (1) (ap), 230.25 (2) (am), 230.31 (3), 230.34 (1) (a) 1. to 9. and 230.445; to renumber and amend 63.08 (1) (fm) and 230.34 (1) (a) (intro.); to amend 62.13 (4) (d), 63.08 (1) (f) 1., 63.08 (1) (f) 2., 63.08 (1) (f) 3., 63.37, 63.39 (2m), 66.0509 (1), 230.04 (14), 230.046 (2), 230.05 (7), 230.08 (2) (c), 230.12 (1) (h), 230.13 (1) (a), 230.13 (3) (b), 230.15 (1), 230.15 (1m) (c) 1., 230.16 (title), 230.16 (1) (a), 230.16 (2), 230.16 (3), 230.16 (4), 230.16 (5), 230.16 (6), 230.16 (7m) (b) 4., 230.16 (10), 230.16 (11), 230.17 (1), 230.17 (2), 230.18, 230.21 (1), 230.21 (2), 230.21 (3), 230.213, 230.24 (1), 230.25 (1), 230.25 (2) (a), 230.25 (2) (b), 230.25 (3) (a), 230.26 (2), 230.26 (4), 230.28 (1) (a), 230.28 (1) (am), 230.28 (1) (c), 230.31 (1) (intro.), 230.32 (4), 230.34 (1) (am), 230.34 (2) (intro.), 230.35 (3) (d), 230.37 (1), 230.43 (1) (title), 230.43 (1) (am), 230.43 (1) (b), 230.43 (1) (c), 230.43 (1) (d), 230.43 (1) (e), 230.43 (5), 230.44 (1) (c), 230.44 (1) (e), 321.65 (3) (g) and 323.2915 (1) and (2); to repeal and recreate 230.19, 230.24 (2), 230.25 (1g), 230.25 (1m), 230.34 (2) (a) and 230.34 (2) (b); and to create 230.16 (7m) (c), 230.16 (9), 230.28 (6), 230.31 (2) and 230.40 (3) of the statutes; relating to: the state civil service system.

SB565,,3 Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill makes numerous changes to the state civil service system, including all of the following:

The hiring process

1. The bill replaces competitive procedures with competitive examinations. Under the bill, appointments to and promotions in the classified service must be made according to merit and fitness, which must be ascertained by competitive examinations.

2. The bill provides a preference system for veterans under which veterans and qualifying spouses of veterans receive preference points, which are applied during the process of creating a certification list for a position. Under current law, if a veteran or qualifying spouse of a veteran is included on a certification list, the appointing authority must offer an interview to the veteran or spouse of a veteran.

3. Under current law, before making an offer of employment to an individual who currently holds a position in the civil service, an appointing authority must review the individual’s personnel file. The bill repeals that requirement.

4. The bill changes the general deadline for making appointments from 30 days after certification to 60 days after certification. The bill also requires the director of the Bureau of Merit Recruitment and Selection to use procedures designed to certify applicants for a vacant permanent position within 45 days of receiving a request from an appointing authority, rather than within 30 days under current law.

Probation, reinstatement, restoration, and layoffs

1. The bill changes the standard probationary period for all original and promotional appointments to permanent and seasonal positions in the classified service from one year to six months. The bill also changes the probationary period for employees in supervisory or management positions from one year to one year with a potential waiver after six months.

2. The bill allows permanent classified service employees who leave the classified service without any delinquency or misconduct to have reinstatement privileges for a five-year period from the date the employee leaves the classified service. Under current law, there are no reinstatement privileges for permanent classified service employees who leave the classified service without any delinquency or misconduct for reasons other than layoff. The bill also provides reinstatement privileges for an employee who leaves the classified service to fill an elective position, which is not allowed under current law.

3. The bill provides to a permanent employee in the classified service who is on layoff status restoration rights for the three-year period following the layoff.

4. The bill allows appointing authorities to determine the order of layoff by seniority, performance, any combination of seniority and performance, or other factors. Under current law, appointing authorities are required to determine layoff status primarily based on job performance.

Just cause and discipline

1. The bill allows an employer to remove, suspend without pay, discharge, reduce the base pay of, or demote (take an adverse employment action against) a permanent classified employee and certain assistant district attorneys and assistant state public defenders only for just cause. The bill eliminates the provision that an employer has just cause to take an adverse employment action against an employee for work performance or personal conduct that an appointing authority determines to be inadequate, unsuitable, or inferior, but only after the appointing authority imposes progressive discipline that complies with standards established by the administrator of the Division of Personnel Management. The bill also eliminates the provision that an employer has just cause to take an adverse employment action against an employee without imposing progressive discipline for specific conduct.

2. The bill changes the threshold for considering an employee’s position abandoned and disciplining the employee for failing to report for work as scheduled without contacting a supervisor from three working days during a calendar year to five consecutive working days in a calendar year.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

SB565,,4 The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB565,1 Section 1. 20.865 (1) (dm) of the statutes is repealed.

SB565,2 Section 2. 20.928 (1f) of the statutes is repealed.

SB565,3 Section 3. 62.13 (4) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,8 62.13 (4) (d) The examination shall be free for all U.S. citizens over 18 and under 55 years of age, with proper limitations as to health and, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, arrest and conviction record. The examination, including minimum training and experience requirements, shall be job-related in compliance with appropriate validation standards and shall be subject to the approval of the board and may include tests of manual skill and physical strength. All relevant experience, whether paid or unpaid, shall satisfy experience requirements. The board shall control examinations and may designate and change examiners, who may or may not be otherwise in the official service of the city, and whose compensation shall be fixed by the board and paid by the city. Veterans and their spouses shall be given preference points in accordance with s. 63.08 (1) (fm) 230.16 (7).

SB565,4 Section 4. 63.08 (1) (f) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,10 63.08 (1) (f) 1. The commission may not impose any restriction as to age on any veteran who is applying or eligible for a position under this section. The commission shall give preference points to veterans and their spouses under par. (fm) s. 230.16 (7), except as provided under subd. 2.

SB565,5 Section 5. 63.08 (1) (f) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,12 63.08 (1) (f) 2. Notwithstanding par. (fm) s. 230.16 (7), persons shall be certified from the eligible list under s. 63.05 (1) (b) without adding any preference points to any person’s grade.

SB565,6 Section 6. 63.08 (1) (f) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,14 63.08 (1) (f) 3. After the certification under subd. 2., any veteran or veteran’s spouse whose grade, plus the points to which the veteran or spouse is entitled under par. (fm) s. 230.16 (7), is equal to or higher than the lowest grade on the list made under subd. 2. shall be added to the certification list under s. 63.05 (1) (b). The number of persons added to a certification list under this subdivision may not exceed the number of persons initially certified under subd. 2.

SB565,7 Section 7. 63.08 (1) (fm) of the statutes is renumbered 230.16 (7), and 230.16 (7) (a) (intro.) and (b), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB565,,16 230.16 (7) (a) (intro.) A preference shall be given to those veterans and to those spouses of veterans specified in subd. subds. 1. a. to f. to 6. who gain eligibility on any competitive employment register and who do not currently hold a permanent appointment or have mandatory restoration rights to a permanent appointment to any position. A preference means the following:

SB565,,17 (b) An applicant who is certified for a position after receiving a preference under subd. 1. d., e., or f. par. (a) 4., 5., or 6. and who is appointed to that position may not obtain a preference under subd. 1. d., e., or f. par. (a) 4., 5., or 6. for any other civil service position for which the applicant subsequently applies.

SB565,8 Section 8. 63.37 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,19 63.37 Board to keep a register of eligibles. From the returns or reports of the examiners, or from the examinations made by the board, the board shall prepare and keep a register for each grade or class of position in the service of such city, of the persons whose general average standing upon examinations for such grade or class is not less than the minimum fixed by the rules of such board, and who are otherwise eligible, and such persons shall take rank upon the register as candidates in the order of their relative excellence as determined by examination without reference to priority of time of examination. The board shall impose no restrictions as to age in case of veterans, and veterans and their spouses shall be given preference points in accordance with s. 63.08 (1) (fm) 230.16 (7).

SB565,9 Section 9. 63.39 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,21 63.39 (2m) Notwithstanding s. 63.08 (1) (fm) 230.16 (7), the board shall certify persons from the list of eligibles without adding preference points to their grades. After the certification under sub. (1) or (2), the board shall add to the certification list any veteran or veteran’s spouse whose grade, plus the points to which the veteran or spouse is entitled under s. 63.08 (1) (fm) 230.16 (7), is equal to or higher than the lowest grade on the list of eligibles.

SB565,10 Section 10. 66.0509 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,23 66.0509 (1) Any city or village may proceed under s. 61.34 (1), 62.11 (5) or 66.0101 to establish a civil service system of selection, tenure and status, and the system may be made applicable to all municipal personnel except the chief executive and members of the governing body, members of boards and commissions including election officials, employees subject to s. 62.13, members of the judiciary and supervisors. Any town may establish a civil service system under this subsection. For veterans there shall be no restrictions as to age, and veterans and their spouses shall be given preference points in accordance with s. 63.08 (1) (fm) 230.16 (7). The system may also include uniform provisions in respect to attendance, leave regulations, compensation and payrolls for all personnel included in the system. The governing body of any city, village or town establishing a civil service system under this section may exempt from the system the librarians and assistants subject to s. 43.09 (1).

SB565,11 Section 11. 230.01 (2) (bm) of the statutes is repealed.

SB565,12 Section 12. 230.01 (2) (bp) of the statutes is repealed.

SB565,13 Section 13. 230.04 (13m) of the statutes is repealed.

SB565,14 Section 14. 230.04 (14) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,28 230.04 (14) Except as provided in s. 230.445, the The administrator shall establish, by rule, the scope and minimum requirements of a state employee grievance procedure relating to conditions of employment.

SB565,15 Section 15. 230.04 (19) of the statutes is repealed.

SB565,16 Section 16. 230.046 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,31 230.046 (2) Supervisory training. After initial appointment to a supervisory position, each appointing authority shall ensure that each classified service supervisor successfully completes a supervisory development program. A waiver of any part of the probationary period under s. 230.28 (1) (c) may not be granted before completion of the development program. The program shall include such subjects as state personnel policies, grievance handling, discipline, performance evaluation, understanding the concerns of state employees with children, the supervisor’s role in management and the concept of the total quality leadership process, including quality improvement through participatory management.

SB565,17 Section 17. 230.05 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,33 230.05 (7) The director shall use techniques and procedures designed to certify eligible applicants to any vacant permanent position within 30 45 days after the filing of an appropriate request by an appointing authority.

SB565,18 Section 18. 230.05 (10) of the statutes is repealed.

SB565,19 Section 19. 230.06 (1) (m) of the statutes is repealed.

SB565,20 Section 20. 230.06 (4) of the statutes is repealed.

SB565,21 Section 21. 230.08 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,38 230.08 (2) (c) The director, associate director, and state historian of the historical society; and, with the approval of the board of curators and the administrator, such number of specialists as are required by the society for specific research, writing, collecting, or editing projects which for a limited period of time not to exceed 2 years, renewable at the discretion of the board of curators and the administrator for an additional 2-year period, require persons with particular training or experience in a specialized phase or field of history, historical research, writing, collecting, or editing, and any persons whose entire salary is paid from funds reappropriated to the society by s. 20.245 (1) (r) where a competitive process examination is impractical.

SB565,22 Section 22. 230.12 (1) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,40 230.12 (1) (h) Other pay, benefits, and working conditions. The compensation plan may include other provisions relating to pay, benefits, and working conditions that shall supersede the provisions of the civil service and other applicable statutes and rules promulgated by the director and the administrator.

SB565,23 Section 23. 230.13 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,42 230.13 (1) (a) Evaluations Examination scores and ranks and other evaluations of applicants, including any examination scores and rankings.

SB565,24 Section 24. 230.13 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,44 230.13 (3) (b) The administrator director and the director administrator may provide any agency with personnel information relating to the hiring and recruitment process, including specifically examination scores and ranks and other evaluations of applicants.

SB565,25 Section 25. 230.13 (3) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

SB565,26 Section 26. 230.15 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,47 230.15 (1) Subject to the restriction under s. 230.143, appointments to, and promotions in, the classified service shall be made only according to merit and fitness, which shall be ascertained so far as practicable by competitive procedures examinations. The director may waive competitive procedures examinations for appointments made under subs. (1m) and (2) and shall waive competitive procedures examinations for appointments made under sub. (2m).

SB565,27 Section 27. 230.15 (1m) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,49 230.15 (1m) (c) 1. Whenever a position is included in the classified service under par. (a), the director may waive the requirement for competitive procedures examinations under sub. (1) with respect to the position and certify the incumbent employee for appointment to the position in accordance with subd. 2.

SB565,28 Section 28. 230.15 (6) of the statutes is repealed.

SB565,29 Section 29. 230.15 (7) of the statutes is repealed.

SB565,30 Section 30. 230.16 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,53 230.16 (title) Applications and selection processes examinations.

SB565,31 Section 31. 230.16 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,55 230.16 (1) (a) The director shall require persons applying for a position in the classified service admission to any examination under this subchapter or under the rules of the director to file an application and resume with the bureau a reasonable time prior to the proposed examination.

SB565,32 Section 32. 230.16 (1) (ap) of the statutes is repealed.

SB565,33 Section 33. 230.16 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,58 230.16 (2) The selection process for a position in the civil service Competitive examinations shall be free and open to all applicants who have fulfilled the preliminary requirements stated in the position examination announcement. To assure that all applicants have a fair opportunity to compete, competitive procedures examinations shall be scheduled in a manner that most nearly meet the convenience of applicants and needs of the service, as determined by the director.

SB565,34 Section 34. 230.16 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,60 230.16 (3) The director may appoint boards of evaluators examiners of at least 2 persons, one of which is selected by the bureau and one of which is a representative of the appointing authority, for the purpose of conducting oral evaluations examinations as a part of the hiring examination procedure for certain positions. All evaluators board members shall be well-qualified and impartial. All questions asked and answers made in any oral evaluation examination of applicants shall be recorded and made a part of the applicant’s records.

SB565,35 Section 35. 230.16 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,62 230.16 (4) All selection criteria examinations, including minimum training and experience requirements, for positions in the classified service shall be job-related in compliance with appropriate validation standards and shall be subject to the approval of the director. All relevant experience, whether paid or unpaid, shall satisfy experience requirements.

SB565,36 Section 36. 230.16 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB565,,64 230.16 (5) In the interest of sound personnel management, consideration of applicants, and service to agencies, the director may set a standard for proceeding to subsequent steps in the selection process an examination, provided that all applicants are fairly treated and due notice has been given. The standard may be at or above the passing point set by the director for any portion of the examination. The director shall utilize appropriate scientific techniques and procedures in administering the selection process, in rating the results of any evaluations used in the selection process examinations, and in determining the relative ratings of the competitors.