Chapter 230

230.12(5)(a) (a) Pay advancement techniques, application. The varying circumstances and needs of the widely diverse occupational groups of state service must be recognized and met through several methods of systematic pay advancement. To this end the compensation program shall contain either individual or combinations of pay advancement techniques, and the pay schedules therein may contain provisions for a variety of methods of within range progression, including, but not limited to discretionary performance awards, equity adjustments, “time in grade” adjustments, and other appropriate within range adjustments as may be provided in the compensation schedule.

230.12(5)(b) (b) Date. Any authorized pay adjustments under this section shall be awarded by each appointing authority for the agency subject to par. (d) on the date or dates in the approved plan.

230.12(5)(c) (c) Increase limits. Unless otherwise defined in the pay schedule the total amount for all such within range increases shall not exceed the amount for such increases specified and approved by the joint committee on employment relations in its action on the administrator’s proposal for such increases.

230.12(5)(d) (d) Individual increase limit. No appointing authority shall award an employee cumulative performance award increases or other types of cumulative within range pay adjustments exceeding a total of 10 percent of the employee’s base pay during a fiscal year. This paragraph does not apply to a specific type of pay increase authorized by the compensation plan if the plan specifically refers to this paragraph and specifically provides that the type of pay increase referenced in the plan is not subject to this paragraph.

230.12(5)(e) (e) Appeal of discretionary performance award. An employee who is dissatisfied with the evaluation methodology and results used by an agency to determine any discretionary performance award, or the amount of such an award, may grieve the decision to the appointing authority under the agency’s grievance procedure. The decision of the appointing authority is final and may not be appealed to the commission under s. 230.44 or 230.45 (1) (c).

230.12(6) (6) Additional hours of work provisions. Provisions relating to compensation for hours of work in addition to the standard basis of employment under s. 230.35 (5) (a) shall be provided for in the compensation plan. The provisions shall include the rate or rates to be paid to employees and the standards for determining which employees receive such compensation.

230.12(7m) (7m) Pay adjustment filing requirements. Except as provided in the rules of the administrator and in the compensation plan, pay increases shall be made only on the dates prescribed under sub. (8). Appointing authorities shall at such times each year as specified by the secretary file with the administrator and with the secretary of administration a list of employees showing their then existing pay rates and their proposed new pay rates.

230.12(8) (8) Effective date of compensation adjustments. Except as provided in s. 20.923 (3), all compensation adjustments for state employees shall be effective on the beginning date of the pay period nearest the statutory or administrative date.

230.12(9) (9) Health insurance premium credits. The administrator may recommend to the joint committee on employment relations a program, administered by the department of employee trust funds, that provides health insurance premium credits to employees whose compensation is established under this section or s. 20.923 (2) or (3). The health insurance premium credits shall be used for the purchase of health insurance for a retired employee, or the retired employee’s surviving insured dependents; for an eligible employee under s. 40.02 (25) (b) 6e., or the eligible employee’s surviving insured dependents; for an employee who is laid off, but who is not on a temporary, school year, seasonal, or sessional layoff, and his or her surviving insured dependents; and for the surviving insured dependents of an employee who dies while employed by the state, and shall be based on the employee’s years of continuous service, accumulated unused sick leave and any other factor recommended by the director. Credits granted under the program to an employee who is laid off shall be available until the credits are exhausted, the employee is reemployed by the state, or 5 years have elapsed from the date of layoff, whichever occurs first. The approval process for the program is the same as that provided under sub. (3) (b) and the program shall be incorporated into the compensation plan under sub. (1).

230.12(10) (10) Deputy and assistant district attorney pay progression plan; calculation of base pay for certain assistant district attorneys.

230.12(10)(a) (a) There is established a pay progression plan for deputy and assistant district attorneys. The pay progression plan shall consist of 17 hourly salary steps, with each step equal to one-seventeenth of the difference between the lowest hourly salary and the highest hourly salary for the salary range for the position, as contained in the compensation plan. The pay progression plan shall be based entirely on merit.

230.12(10)(b) (b) Beginning with the first pay period that occurs on or after July 1, 2013, all deputy and assistant district attorneys who have served with the state as deputy or assistant district attorneys for a continuous period of 12 months or more, and who are not paid the maximum hourly rate, shall be paid an hourly salary at the step that is immediately above their hourly salary on June 30, 2013. All other deputy and assistant district attorneys, who are not paid the maximum hourly rate, shall be paid an hourly salary at the step that is immediately above their hourly salary on June 30, 2013, when they have served with the state as deputy or assistant district attorneys for a continuous period of 12 months.

230.12(10)(c) (c) Beginning with the first pay period that occurs on or after July 1, 2014, and with the first pay period that occurs on or after each succeeding July 1, all deputy and assistant district attorneys who have served with the state as deputy or assistant district attorneys for a continuous period of 12 months or more, and who are not paid the maximum hourly rate, may, at the discretion of their supervising district attorney, be paid an hourly salary at any step, or part thereof, above their hourly salary on the immediately preceding June 30. All other deputy and assistant district attorneys, who are not paid the maximum hourly rate, may, at the discretion of their supervising district attorney, be paid an hourly salary at any step, or part thereof, above their hourly salary on the immediately preceding June 30, when they have served with the state as deputy or assistant district attorneys for a continuous period of 12 months. No salary adjustment for a deputy or an assistant district attorney under this paragraph may exceed 10 percent of his or her base pay during a fiscal year.

230.12(10)(d) (d) Beginning on April 10, 2014, if a district attorney separates from that position and within 5 years is appointed to an assistant district attorney position, the person shall receive credit for his or her years of service as a district attorney and any years of service as an assistant district attorney, if applicable, for purposes of calculating his or her new base pay as an assistant district attorney.

230.12(11) (11) Assistant state public defender pay progression plan.

230.12(11)(a) (a) There is established a pay progression plan for assistant state public defenders. The pay progression plan shall consist of 17 hourly salary steps, with each step equal to one-seventeenth of the difference between the lowest hourly salary and the highest hourly salary for the salary range for assistant state public defenders contained in the compensation plan. The pay progression plan shall be based entirely on merit.

230.12(11)(b) (b) Beginning with the first pay period that occurs on or after July 1, 2013, all assistant state public defenders who have served with the state as assistant state public defenders for a continuous period of 12 months or more, and who are not paid the maximum hourly rate, shall be paid an hourly salary at the step that is immediately above their hourly salary on June 30, 2013. All other assistant state public defenders, who are not paid the maximum hourly rate, shall be paid an hourly salary at the step that is immediately above their hourly salary on June 30, 2013, when they have served with the state as assistant state public defenders for a continuous period of 12 months.

230.12(11)(c) (c) Beginning with the first pay period that occurs on or after July 1, 2014, and with the first pay period that occurs on or after each succeeding July 1, all assistant state public defenders who have served with the state as assistant state public defenders for a continuous period of 12 months or more, and who are not paid the maximum hourly rate, may, at the discretion of the state public defender, be paid an hourly salary at any step, or part thereof, above their hourly salary on the immediately preceding June 30. All other assistant state public defenders, who are not paid the maximum hourly rate, may, at the discretion of the state public defender, be paid an hourly salary at any step, or part thereof, above their hourly salary on the immediately preceding June 30, when they have served with the state as assistant state public defenders for a continuous period of 12 months. No salary adjustment for an assistant state public defender under this paragraph may exceed 10 percent of his or her base pay during a fiscal year.

230.12(12) (12) Assistant attorneys general pay progression plan.

230.12(12)(a) (a) There is established a pay progression plan for assistant attorneys general. The pay progression plan shall consist of 17 hourly salary steps, with each step equal to one-seventeenth of the difference between the lowest hourly salary and the highest hourly salary for the salary range for assistant attorneys general contained in the compensation plan. The pay progression plan shall be based entirely on merit.

230.12(12)(b) (b) Beginning with the first pay period that occurs on or after July 1, 2013, all assistant attorneys general who have served with the state as assistant attorneys general for a continuous period of 12 months or more, and who are not paid the maximum hourly rate, shall be paid an hourly salary at the step that is immediately above their hourly salary on June 30, 2013. All other assistant attorneys general, who are not paid the maximum hourly rate, shall be paid an hourly salary at the step that is immediately above their hourly salary on June 30, 2013, when they have served with the state as assistant attorneys general for a continuous period of 12 months.

230.12(12)(c) (c) Beginning with the first pay period that occurs on or after July 1, 2014, and with the first pay period that occurs on or after each succeeding July 1, all assistant attorneys general who have served with the state as assistant attorneys general for a continuous period of 12 months or more, and who are not paid the maximum hourly rate, may, at the discretion of the attorney general, be paid an hourly salary at any step, or part thereof, above their hourly salary on the immediately preceding June 30. All other assistant attorneys general, who are not paid the maximum hourly rate, may, at the discretion of the attorney general, be paid an hourly salary at any step, or part thereof, above their hourly salary on the immediately preceding June 30, when they have served with the state as assistant attorneys general for a continuous period of 12 months. No salary adjustment for an assistant attorney general under this paragraph may exceed 10 percent of his or her base pay during a fiscal year.

230.12 History History: 1971 c. 55, 125, 215; 1971 c. 270 ss. 20, 27, 28, 30 to 32; 1971 c. 336; Stats. 1971 s. 16.086; 1973 c. 12, 51, 90; 1975 c. 28, 39, 199, 224; 1977 c. 29, 44; 1977 c. 196 ss. 36, 130 (3), (5), (11), 131; 1977 c. 272, 418, 449; Stats. 1977 s. 230.12; 1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 20 s. 2202 (33) (b); 1981 c. 153; 1983 a. 27 ss. 1611am to 1612am, 2200 (15); 1983 a. 140; 1985 a. 29, 34, 42, 119, 332; 1987 a. 33, 83, 340, 399, 403; 1989 a. 39, 56, 117, 119, 124, 153, 336, 359; 1991 a. 269; 1995 a. 37, 88; 1997 a. 14, 237; 1999 a. 42, 102; 2001 a. 16, 29, 35; 2003 a. 33, 91, 117; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 10, 32, 238; 2013 a. 20 ss. 2013m to 2015, 2365m, 9448; 2013 a. 207; 2015 a. 55, 58, 150; 2017 a. 366.

230.12 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. ER 29, Wis. adm. code.

230.13 230.13 Closed records.

230.13(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (3) and ss. 19.36 (10) and (11) and 103.13, the director and the administrator may keep records of the following personnel matters closed to the public:

230.13(1)(a) (a) Evaluations of applicants, including any examination scores and rankings.

230.13(1)(c) (c) Dismissals, demotions and other disciplinary actions.

230.13(1)(d) (d) Pay survey data obtained from identifiable nonpublic employers.

230.13(1)(e) (e) Names of nonpublic employers contributing pay survey data.

230.13(2) (2) Unless the name of an applicant is certified under s. 230.25, the director and the administrator shall keep records of the identity of an applicant for a position closed to the public, except as provided in sub. (3).

230.13(3) (3) 

230.13(3)(a) (a) The director and the administrator shall provide to the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) information requested under s. 49.22 (2m) that would otherwise be closed to the public under this section. Information provided under this paragraph may only include an individual’s name and address, an individual’s employer and financial information related to an individual.

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

230.13(3)(c) (c) The administrator and the director shall provide an appointing authority with access to the personnel files of any individual who currently holds a position whom the appointing authority intends to make an offer of employment.

230.13 History History: 1971 c. 270; 1977 c. 196 s. 37; Stats. 1977 s. 230.13; 1979 c. 339; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 269, 317; 1997 a. 191; 2003 a. 33, 47, 320; 2007 a. 20; 2015 a. 150; 2017 a. 59.

230.13 Note NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 47, which affects this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.

230.13 Annotation Only names of applicants for classified positions who were not certified for employment may be withheld under sub. (2). Milwaukee Journal v. UW Board of Regents, 163 Wis. 2d 933, 472 N.W.2d 607 (Ct. App. 1991).

230.14 230.14 Recruitment.

230.14(1) (1) Recruitment for classified positions shall be an active continuous process conducted in a manner that assures a diverse, highly qualified group of applicants; and shall be conducted on the broadest possible base consistent with sound personnel management practices and an approved affirmative action plan or program. Due consideration shall be given to the provisions of s. 230.19.

230.14(3m) (3m) In advertising openings in the classified civil service, the state may not require as a condition of application that an applicant be a college graduate unless the opening is a position as a forensic scientist in a state or regional crime laboratory or unless the opening must be filled by an incumbent holding a credential, as defined in s. 440.01 (2) (a), or other license, permit, certificate or registration in an occupation regulated by law and college graduation is required to obtain the occupational credential, license, permit, certificate or registration.

230.14(4) (4) The director may charge an agency a fee to announce any vacancy to be filled in a classified or unclassified position in that agency. Funds received under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (1) (kn).

230.14 History History: 1977 c. 196; 1981 c. 26; 1987 a. 32; 1991 a. 132; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 307; 2003 a. 33; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55.

230.14 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. ER-MRS 6, Wis. adm. code.

230.143 230.143 Appointment; selective service registration. A person who is required to register with the selective service system under 50 USC, Appendix, sections 451 to 473, but has not registered, may not receive an original appointment to a position in the classified service during the period that the person is required to register.

230.143 History History: 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20 ss. 2365m, 9448.

230.147 230.147 Employment of aid recipients.

230.147(1) (1) Each appointing authority of an agency with more than 100 authorized permanent full-time equivalent positions shall prepare and implement a plan of action to employ persons who, at the time determined under sub. (4), receive aid under s. 49.19, or benefits under s. 49.147 (3) to (5), with the goal of making the ratio of those persons occupying permanent positions in the agency to the total number of persons occupying permanent positions in the agency equal to the ratio of the average case load receiving aid under s. 49.19, or benefits under s. 49.147 (3) to (5), in this state in the previous fiscal year to the average number of persons in the state civilian labor force in the preceding fiscal year, as determined by the department of children and families.

230.147(2) (2) Each appointing authority of an agency with 100 or fewer authorized permanent full-time equivalent positions is encouraged to employ persons who, at the time determined under sub. (4), receive aid under s. 49.19, or benefits under s. 49.147 (3) to (5), to attempt to make the ratio of those persons occupying permanent positions in the agency to the total number of persons occupying permanent positions in the agency equal to the ratio of the average case load receiving aid under s. 49.19, or benefits under s. 49.147 (3) to (5) in this state in the previous fiscal year to the average number of persons in the state civilian labor force in the preceding fiscal year, as determined by the department of children and families.

230.147(3) (3) Notwithstanding subs. (1) and (2), the state fair park board shall make every reasonable effort to employ in permanent full-time equivalent positions persons who, at the time determined under sub. (4), receive aid under s. 49.19 or benefits under s. 49.147 (3) to (5). The state fair park board shall consult with the division to assure that its efforts under this subsection comply with ch. 230.

230.147(4) (4) The determination of when a person is receiving aid under s. 49.19 for the purposes of this section shall be made as follows:

230.147(4)(a) (a) For positions in the classified service, when the person is certified under s. 230.25.

230.147(4)(b) (b) For positions outside of the classified service, when the person begins employment with the agency or state fair park board.

230.147 History History: 1985 a. 285; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31; 1995 a. 27 ss. 6281, 6282, 9130 (4); 1995 a. 289; 1997 a. 3; 2003 a. 33; 2007 a. 20; 2015 a. 55.

230.148 230.148 Unclassified service reappointments. No person may be reappointed to a position in the unclassified service in any executive branch agency except the office of the governor, within one year after the person vacated the position, at a salary in excess of the salary which the person was receiving in the position at the time he or she vacated the position unless the excess is for an across the board pay adjustment or merit pay adjustment which is authorized by the joint committee on employment relations or by the legislature and which is generally awarded to other employees in the period between the time the person vacated the position and the time of the reappointment, or unless the excess was received by the person after vacating the position and while serving for not less than 6 consecutive months in any agency in any branch of state government.

230.148 History History: 1979 c. 34.

230.15 230.15 Appointments, promotions, changes in classified service.

230.15(1) (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. The director may waive competitive procedures for appointments made under subs. (1m) and (2) and shall waive competitive procedures for appointments made under sub. (2m).

230.15(1m) (1m) 

230.15(1m)(a) (a) Whenever the state becomes responsible for a function previously administered by another governmental agency or a quasi-public or private enterprise, or when positions in the unclassified service, excluding employees of the legislature, are determined to be more appropriately included in the classified service, the affected positions shall be included in the classified service.

230.15(1m)(b) (b) Whenever a position is included in the classified service under par. (a), the administrator shall determine all of the following:

230.15(1m)(b)1. 1. The classification of the position.

230.15(1m)(b)2. 2. If the incumbent employee is certified under par. (c), the pay, employee benefits and status under s. 230.35 appropriate for the employee.

230.15(1m)(c) (c)

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

230.15(1m)(c)2. 2. The director may certify an incumbent employee as eligible for appointment under subd. 1. if the director determines on the basis of sound personnel management practices that the incumbent is qualified for the position included in the classified service.

230.15(1m)(c)3. 3. If an employee is appointed after being certified under subd. 2., the director shall determine the employee’s probationary status under s. 230.28, except that the employee shall receive credit toward his or her probationary period for the time that the employee had been employed in the position immediately prior to appointment.

230.15(2) (2) If a vacancy occurs in a position in the classified service when peculiar and exceptional qualifications of a scientific, professional, or educational character are required, and if presented with satisfactory evidence that for specified reasons competition in such special cases is impracticable, and that the position can best be filled by the selection of some designated person of high and recognized attainments in such qualities, the director may waive competition requirements unless the vacancy is to be filled by promotion.

230.15(2m) (2m) If a vacancy occurs in a position in the classified service and the director is notified by an appointing authority that the position is to be filled by a disabled veteran under s. 230.275, the director shall waive all competition requirements for filling the position.

230.15(3) (3) No person shall be appointed, transferred, removed, reinstated, restored, promoted or reduced in the classified service in any manner or by any means, except as provided in this subchapter.

230.15(4) (4) The director and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to permit employees of the University of Wisconsin System who are appointed to positions in agencies to receive credit for their years of service with the University of Wisconsin System for purposes of transferring continuous service benefits, including accumulated sick leave. The director shall promulgate rules necessary to implement the provisions of the memorandum of understanding.

230.15(6) (6) Annually, each appointing authority shall submit a report to the director and the administrator indicating the number of days it took to make an offer of employment for a vacant position after receiving from the director a list of names of individuals who are certified for appointment to the position.

230.15(7) (7) An appointing authority may not make an offer of employment to any individual who currently holds a position unless the appointing authority has reviewed the personnel file of the individual.

230.15 History History: 1971 c. 270 ss. 23, 46; Stats. 1971 s. 16.11; 1973 c. 90; 1977 c. 196 ss. 39, 131; Stats. 1977 s. 230.15; 1981 c. 140; 1983 a. 27; 1989 a. 31; 1993 a. 12; 1997 a. 307; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2015 a. 55, 150.

230.16 230.16 Applications and selection processes.

230.16(1) (1) 

230.16(1)(a) (a) The director shall require persons applying for a position in the classified service to file an application and resume with the bureau.

230.16(1)(am) (am) The director may require in connection with the application such supplementary work history, educational transcripts, statements of physicians or others having knowledge of the applicant, as needed for qualification evaluations.

230.16(1)(ap) (ap)

230.16(1)(ap)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., the director may not request a person applying for a position in the civil service, on an application or otherwise, to supply information regarding the conviction record of the applicant, or otherwise inquire into or consider the conviction record of the applicant before the applicant has been certified for the position. This paragraph does not prohibit the director from notifying an applicant for a position in the civil service that, by law or policy, a particular conviction record may disqualify an applicant from employment in a particular position.

230.16(1)(ap)2. 2. If a particular conviction record disqualifies applicants for a certain position in the state civil service, the director may request a person applying for the position to supply information regarding the conviction record of the applicant, or otherwise inquire into or consider the conviction record of the applicant, to determine whether the applicant’s conviction record disqualifies him or her for the position before the applicant is certified for the position.

230.16(1)(b) (b) The bureau shall furnish application forms without charge to all persons requesting them.

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

230.16(3) (3) The director may appoint boards of evaluators 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 as a part of the hiring procedure for certain positions. All evaluators shall be well-qualified and impartial. All questions asked and answers made in any oral evaluation shall be recorded and made a part of the applicant’s records.

230.16(4) (4) All selection criteria, 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.

230.16(5) (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, provided that all applicants are fairly treated and due notice has been given. 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, and in determining the relative ratings of the competitors.

230.16(6) (6) If any applicant is unable to complete an evaluation that is used in the selection process in the form presented to the applicant due to a disability, the bureau shall provide necessary accommodations to ensure equality of opportunity in the selection process.

230.16(7m) (7m) 

230.16(7m)(a) (a) In this subsection, “veteran” means a person who fulfills at least one of the following requirements: