WSR 02-12-050

EMERGENCY RULES

PERSONNEL RESOURCES BOARD


[ Filed May 29, 2002, 3:42 p.m. , effective July 11, 2002 ]

     Date of Adoption: May 29, 2002.

     Purpose: The purpose of this rule is to deal with incumbent status for positions converted by the Washington Personnel Resources Board from exempt to classified.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.06.150.

     Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

     Reasons for this Finding: This rule was previously adopted on an emergency basis effective March 14, 2002. In December 2001, the Washington Personnel Resources (WPRB) issued a decision determining that several positions of the Washington Horse Racing Commission (WHRC) do not meet the exemption criteria in WAC 356-06-020 and therefore, are in the classified civil service.

     Since the issuance of the WPRB decision, Department of Personnel staff has been working with the WHRC and other interested parties regarding issues dealing with the transition. It has taken a considerable amount of time in determining classification and compensation issues, and development of rules to allow the transition.

     The WHRC starts hiring employees in the spring and is in full operation by summer. Therefore, at a special Washington Management Service hearing held on March 14, 2002, the director adopted a proposal regarding classification and compensation. In order to allow the transition of employees into classified service to be effective at the same time, these rules need to be adopted on an emergency basis.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
     Effective Date of Rule: July 11, 2002.

May 29, 2002

E. C. Matt

Secretary


NEW SECTION
WAC 356-06-065   Incumbent status for positions converted by the board from exempt to classified.   (1) When the board determines that a position that has been treated as exempt does not meet the exemption criteria in WAC 356-06-020 the incumbent's status within the classified Washington general service will be in accordance with subsections (2) through (10) of this section.

     (2) The incumbent shall not be required to pass a qualifying examination or meet the minimum qualifications for the Washington general service classification to which their position is allocated.

     (3) Incumbents who have been continuously employed for a period of time equivalent to or greater than the probationary period established for their Washington general service classification shall not be required to complete the probationary period. Incumbents who have not been continuously employed for a period of time equivalent to or greater than the probationary period shall be required to complete the remaining portion of their probationary period.

     (4) Incumbents whose salary is higher than the salary range assigned to their Washington general service classification shall be Y-rated in accordance with WAC 356-14-075.

     (5) The periodic increment date (PID) for incumbents placed in positions converted by the board on or before the 15th of the month shall be set at the first day of that month. The PID for incumbents placed in positions converted by the board after the 15th of the month shall be set the first day of the following month.

     (6) Incumbents shall be credited with all unused sick leave credits, if any, that they had accrued up to the time of placement in a position converted by the board and shall begin to accrue sick leave as provided in WAC 356-18-050.

     (7) Incumbents shall be credited will all unused vacation leave credits, if any, that they had accrued up to the time of placement in a position converted by the board and shall begin to accrue vacation leave as provided in WAC 356-18-090.

     (8) With regard to calculation of unused sick and vacation leave credits upon conversion, the employing agency's leave records are presumed to be accurate and in accordance with Chapter 356-18 WAC. If the incumbent disagrees he or she bears the burden of proof, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a different leave amount is correct under Chapter 356-18 WAC.

     (9) The board will determine the methodology to be used for establishing the effective date for incumbent seniority. When feasible, the board will apply the methodology as prescribed in WAC 356-05-390. The employing agency shall set the seniority date in accordance with the board's instruction. Thereafter, incumbents shall accrue seniority in accordance with WAC 356-05-390. As provided in WAC 356-30-130, seniority gained by seasonal career employees during seasonal layoff will be disregarded. If an incumbent believes the agency did not set the seniority date in accordance with the board's instructions, the incumbent may request a review with the director. The written request for review must be filed with the director and received within 30 calendar days from the date the agency informed the employee of their seniority date. The request must contain the reasons and basis for the review. Once the review is completed the director or designee shall issue a decision, which will be final and binding.

     (10) Once an incumbent is placed in a position converted under the provisions of this section, he/she shall be covered by the merit system rules and shall have appeal rights as set forth in these rules and Title 358 WAC.

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