Chapter 230

230.03(10h) (10h) “Employee” or “state employee” means an employee of an agency.

230.03(10m) (10m) “Gender group,” when used in connection with affirmative action under this chapter, does not include groups discriminated against because of sexual orientation, as defined in s. 111.32 (13m).

230.03(10r) (10r) “Job group” means a set of classifications combined by the office on the basis of similarity in responsibility, pay range and nature of work.

230.03(11) (11) “Position” means a group of duties and responsibilities in either the classified or the unclassified divisions of the civil service, which require the services of an employee on a part-time or full-time basis.

230.03(12) (12) “Resident of this state” means a person who, on the date an application under s. 230.16 (1) is filed:

230.03(12)(a) (a) Has established a residence, as defined in s. 6.10 (1), in this state not less than 10 days earlier;

230.03(12)(b) (b) Has resided in this state for not less than a total of one year out of the immediately preceding 5 years;

230.03(12)(c) (c) Is eligible to register to vote in this state; or

230.03(12)(d) (d) Is the spouse or minor child of a person meeting the requirements of par. (a), (b) or (c).

230.03(13) (13) “Unclassified service” means the unclassified service of the civil service.

230.03(14) (14) Except as provided in s. 230.16 (7m), “veteran” means any of the following:

230.03(14)(a) (a) A person who served on active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces and who was entitled to receive any of the following:

230.03(14)(a)1. 1. The armed forces expeditionary medal established by executive order 10977 on December 4, 1961.

230.03(14)(a)2. 2. The Vietnam service medal established by executive order 11231 on July 8, 1965.

230.03(14)(a)3. 3. The navy expeditionary medal.

230.03(14)(a)4. 4. The marine corps expeditionary medal.

230.03(14)(b) (b) A person who served on active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces in a crisis zone, as defined in s. 45.01 (11).

230.03(14)(c) (c) A person who served on active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces for at least one day during a war period, as defined in s. 45.01 (13) or under section 1 of executive order 10957 dated August 10, 1961.

230.03(14)(d) (d) A person who served on active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces for 2 continuous years or more or the full period of the person’s initial service obligation, whichever is less. A person discharged from the U.S. armed forces for reasons of hardship or a service-connected disability or a person released due to a reduction in the U.S. armed forces prior to the completion of the required period of service shall also be considered a “veteran”, regardless of the actual time served.

230.03 History History: 1971 c. 270; 1973 c. 333; 1977 c. 196 ss. 24, 100; 1977 c. 418; 1981 c. 20, 26; 1983 a. 27 ss. 1604, 2200 (15); 1983 a. 409, 453, 538; 1987 a. 32; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 101, 147; 1993 a. 16, 254; 1995 a. 27, 255; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 65, 87; 2001 a. 16, 103; 2003 a. 33 ss. 2385 to 2387s, 9160; 2005 a. 22, 74, 335, 393; 2007 a. 20, 97; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 7, 10, 32, 229; 2013 a. 20 ss. 1998u, 2365m, 9448; 2013 a. 165; 2013 a. 168 s. 21; 2015 a. 55, 196.

230.04 230.04 Powers and duties of the administrator.

230.04(1) (1) The administrator is charged with the effective administration of this chapter. All powers and duties, necessary to that end, which are not exclusively vested by statute in the commission, the division of equal rights, the director or appointing authorities, are reserved to the administrator.

230.04(1m) (1m) The administrator may delegate, in writing, any of his or her functions set forth in this chapter to an appointing authority, within prescribed standards if the administrator finds that the agency has personnel management capabilities to perform such functions effectively and has indicated its approval and willingness to accept such responsibility by written agreement. If the administrator determines that any agency is not performing such delegated function within prescribed standards, the administrator shall forthwith withdraw such delegated function. Subject to the approval of the joint committee on finance, the administrator may order transferred to the division from the agency to which delegation was made such agency staff and other resources as necessary to perform such functions if increased staff was authorized to that agency as a consequence of such delegation or if the division reduced staff or shifted staff to new responsibilities as a result of such delegation. Any delegatory action taken under s. 230.09 (2) (a) or (d) or 230.13 (1) by an appointing authority may be appealed to the commission under s. 230.44 (1) (b). The administrator shall be a party in such an appeal.

230.04(2) (2) The administrator may utilize the services of technical or specialized personnel to assist in implementing and maintaining a sound personnel management program. These services may be obtained from persons inside or outside of state service.

230.04(3) (3) The administrator may issue enforceable orders on all matters relating to the administration, enforcement and effect of this chapter and the rules prescribed thereunder except on matters relating to the provisions of subch. III or to those provisions of subch. II for which responsibility is specifically charged to the director.

230.04(4) (4) The administrator shall establish and maintain a collective bargaining capability under s. 111.815 (2).

230.04(5) (5) The administrator shall promulgate rules on all matters relating to the administration of the division and the performance of the duties assigned to the administrator, except on matters relating to those provisions of subch. II for which responsibility is specifically charged to the director.

230.04(8) (8) The administrator shall establish an employee performance evaluation program under s. 230.37 (1).

230.04(9) (9) The administrator shall do all of the following:

230.04(9)(a) (a) Establish standards for affirmative action plans to be prepared by all agencies and applied to all employees in and applicants for employment in the unclassified and classified services, except for state officers elected by the people. The standards shall state the time periods within which these plans shall be prepared.

230.04(9)(b) (b) Review and approve or disapprove any affirmative action plan prepared by an agency to ensure compliance with the standards established under par. (a), and send any approved affirmative action plan to the governor with comments.

230.04(9)(c) (c) Monitor, evaluate and make recommendations to each agency to improve its progress toward providing equal opportunity to employees, applicants for employment and clients of the agency.

230.04(9)(d) (d) Provide each agency with technical assistance in exploring and implementing innovative personnel policies in compliance with standards established under par. (a).

230.04(9)(e) (e) Annually, prepare and submit to the governor and the legislature a summary of existing agency affirmative action program accomplishments, including the information obtained from agencies under sub. (10) (b), future goals and recommended actions.

230.04(9)(em) (em) Annually, prepare and submit to the governor and the legislature a summary of the progress being made to provide employment opportunities in civil service for veterans under this chapter, including the information obtained from agencies under sub. (10) (c).

230.04(9)(f) (f) Establish an affirmative action subunit. The affirmative action subunit shall advise and assist the director, the administrator, and agency heads on establishing policies and programs to ensure appropriate affirmative action. The subunit shall advise and assist the administrator in monitoring such programs and shall provide staff to the council on affirmative action.

230.04(9m) (9m) The administrator shall conduct periodic reviews and evaluations of the written records of hiring decisions made by appointing authorities under ss. 230.21 (1m), 230.25 (1p) and 230.27 (2k).

230.04(9r) (9r) 

230.04(9r)(a) (a) In this subsection:

230.04(9r)(a)1. 1. “Independent” means the extent to which persons with disabilities exert control and choice over their own lives.

230.04(9r)(a)2. 2. “Severely disabled employee” means an employee in the classified service with a chronic disability if the chronic disability meets all of the following conditions:

230.04(9r)(a)2.a. a. It is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments.

230.04(9r)(a)2.b. b. It is likely to continue indefinitely.

230.04(9r)(a)2.c. c. It results in substantial functional limitations in one or more of the following areas of major life activity: self-care; receptive and expressive language; learning; mobility; capacity for independent living; and economic self-sufficiency.

230.04(9r)(b) (b) The administrator shall keep a record of all of the following:

230.04(9r)(b)1. 1. The number of severely disabled employees and the percentage of severely disabled employees of the total number of employees in the classified service.

230.04(9r)(b)2. 2. The number of severely disabled employees hired in each calendar year and the percentage of severely disabled employees among all persons hired in the classified service in that year.

230.04(10) (10) 

230.04(10)(a) (a) The administrator may require all agencies and their officers to comply with the administrator’s request to furnish current information pertaining to authorized positions, payroll and related items regarding civil service and employment relations functions.

230.04(10)(b) (b) The administrator shall request from each agency and each agency shall furnish to the administrator relevant racial, ethnic, gender and disability information on every new employee hired by the agency including limited term, project, seasonal and sessional employees. The administrator shall maintain the data to permit a periodic review of the agency’s affirmative action plan accomplishments.

230.04(10)(c) (c) The administrator shall request from each agency and each agency shall furnish to the administrator relevant information regarding the prior military service, if any, of every new employee hired by the agency including limited term, project, seasonal and sessional employees. The administrator shall maintain the data to permit a periodic review of the progress being made to provide employment opportunities in civil service for veterans and disabled veterans.

230.04(11) (11) The administrator may provide by rule for an understudy program to assure continuity in selected positions.

230.04(12) (12) The administrator shall keep in the division an official roster of all permanent classified employees which shall include classification titles, pay and employment status changes and appropriate dates thereof.

230.04(13) (13) The administrator shall do all of the following:

230.04(13)(a) (a) Establish standards for plans to increase state employment of recipients of aid under s. 49.19 or benefits under s. 49.147 (3) to (5) prepared by agencies under s. 230.147 (1). The standards shall state the time periods within which these plans shall be prepared.

230.04(13)(b) (b) Review and approve or disapprove plans prepared under s. 230.147 (1) to ensure compliance with the standards established under par. (a).

230.04(13)(c) (c) Monitor, evaluate and make recommendations to agencies to improve progress toward meeting the goal in s. 230.147 (1).

230.04(13)(e) (e) On or before September 30 annually beginning in 1989, prepare and submit to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) a report that includes all of the following information for the fiscal year preceding the date that the report is due:

230.04(13)(e)1. 1. A description of each agency’s effort during that fiscal year to employ under s. 230.147 persons who received aid under s. 49.19 or benefits under s. 49.147 (3) to (5).

230.04(13)(e)2. 2. The number of persons receiving aid under s. 49.19 or benefits under s. 49.147 (3) to (5) who were employed by each agency under s. 230.147 during that fiscal year and the job title or classification of each position filled under s. 230.147.

230.04(13m) (13m) The administrator shall establish standards for progressive discipline plans to be prepared by all agencies and applied to all employees in the classified service. The standards shall address progressive discipline for personal conduct and work performance that is inadequate, unsuitable, or inferior. The standards established under this subsection shall allow an appointing authority to accelerate progressive discipline if the inadequacy, unsuitability, or inferiority of the personal conduct or work performance for which an employee is being disciplined is severe.

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

230.04(15) (15) The administrator shall review and either approve or disapprove each determination by an agency head regarding the classification of a state employee as a protective occupation participant for purposes of the Wisconsin retirement system.

230.04(17) (17) The administrator shall resolve any dispute raised by a complaint filed under s. 321.64 (1) (c).

230.04(18) (18) The administrator may provide any services and materials to agencies and may charge the agencies for providing the services and materials. The administrator shall establish a methodology for determining the costs of services and materials charged to state agencies under this subsection. All moneys received from the charges shall be deposited in the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (1) (kz).

230.04(19) (19) The administrator shall develop and implement a discretionary merit award program to distribute money under s. 20.928 (1f) to agencies for the purpose of providing lump sum monetary awards to classified employees whose job performance has exceeded agency expectations.

230.04 History History: 1977 c. 196 ss. 48, 63, 101, 130 (11); 1977 c. 418, 447; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 27, 409; 1987 a. 27, 32, 140, 403; 1989 a. 31, 124; 1991 a. 101, 269, 288, 315; 1995 a. 289; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 87; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 22; 2007 a. 200; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 10; 2015 a. 55, 150.

230.04 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ER, Wis. adm. code.

230.04 Annotation The Department of Employment Relations (DER) had no authority to control the recruitment process after certification. It was proper to dismiss DER as a party to an action alleging discrimination in failing to hire a candidate who had been certified for the position. Balele v. Wisconsin Personnel Commission, 223 Wis. 2d 739, 589 N.W.2d 418 (Ct. App. 1998), 98-1432.

230.042 230.042 Wisconsin veterans employment initiative.

230.042(1) (1) In this section, an “agency” includes the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

230.042(2) (2) In consultation with the council on veterans employment, the administrator shall develop and administer a human resources staff training program to increase the recruitment and employment of veterans in agencies.

230.042(3) (3) The appointing authority of each agency with more than 100 authorized permanent full-time equivalent positions shall do all of the following:

230.042(3)(a) (a) Prepare and implement a plan to employ qualified veterans with the goal of making the ratio of the number of veterans holding permanent positions in the agency to the total number of individuals holding permanent positions in the agency equal to or greater than the ratio of the number of veterans in the state civilian labor force in the preceding fiscal year to the average number of individuals in the state civilian labor force in the preceding fiscal year, as determined by the council on veterans employment.

230.042(3)(b) (b) Prepare and implement a plan to employ qualified veterans with a service-connected disability rating with the goal of making the ratio of the number of veterans with a service-connected disability rating holding permanent positions in the agency to the total number of individuals holding permanent positions in the agency equal to or greater than the ratio of veterans with a service-connected disability rating in the state civilian labor force in the preceding fiscal year to the average number of individuals in the state civilian labor force in the preceding fiscal year, as determined by the council on veterans employment.

230.042(4) (4) Each appointing authority of an agency with 100 or fewer authorized permanent full-time equivalent positions is encouraged to do all of the following:

230.042(4)(a) (a) Employ qualified veterans with the goal of making the ratio of the number of veterans holding permanent positions in the agency to the total number of individuals holding permanent positions in the agency equal to or greater than the ratio of the number of veterans in the state civilian labor force in the preceding fiscal year to the average number of individuals in the state civilian labor force in the preceding fiscal year, as determined by the council on veterans employment.

230.042(4)(b) (b) Employ qualified veterans with a service-connected disability rating with the goal of making the ratio of the number of veterans with a service-connected disability rating holding permanent positions in the agency to the total number of individuals holding permanent positions in the agency equal to or greater than the ratio of veterans with a service-connected disability rating in the state civilian labor force in the preceding fiscal year to the average number of individuals in the state civilian labor force in the preceding fiscal year, as determined by the council on veterans employment.

230.042(6) (6) The council on veterans employment may establish separate goals that are applicable to an agency for the hiring of qualified veterans or veterans with a service-connected disability rating. If the council on veterans employment establishes such goals, the appointing authority of that agency shall prepare and implement a plan to meet those goals in lieu of the goals specified under subs. (3) and (4).

230.042 History History: 2015 a. 386.

230.046 230.046 Training programs.

230.046(1) (1) Declaration of policy. In order to promote efficiency and economy in the operation of the state government, to provide means for the development of maximum proficiency by employees thereof, to establish and maintain the highest standards of performance in the transaction of the state’s business, and to install and utilize effectively the best modern practices and techniques which have been developed, tested and proved, it is necessary and desirable in the public interest that self-improvement be supplemented and extended by state-sponsored training programs. The objective of these programs is to develop skills, knowledge, and abilities which will best qualify state employees for effective performance of their official duties, and to retain skilled and efficient state employees in order to continually improve the quality of public service.

230.046(2) (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. 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.

230.046(3) (3) Training programs. Each appointing authority may do any of the following:

230.046(3)(a) (a) Provide off-the-job specialized training courses during working hours to designated employees without loss of pay.

230.046(3)(b) (b) Provide specialized training to qualified persons through educational stipends in lieu of pay, but in no event shall a monthly stipend exceed the minimum pay of the position for which training is undertaken.

230.046(3)(c) (c) Provide specialized training to designated employees through assignment to research projects, prescribed courses of study, institutes and short courses which are related to the performance of official duties and to pay the cost of required tuition and other necessary fees and expense in connection therewith.

230.046(3)(d) (d) Conduct on-the-job courses of instruction deemed necessary for the efficient performance of agency functions and to pay honorariums to qualified experts instructing in such courses.

230.046(3)(e) (e) Conduct other training programs consistent with the standards set by this section.