Civil Service. The State Civil Service Law establishes a system of personnel administration for general government and higher education employers and employees. Civil Service Law governs the appointment, promotion, transfer, layoff, removal, discipline, and other personnel matters of most state agency employees. All applicants for civil service positions are statutorily required to be a United States citizen or a legal permanent resident who are able to read and write the English language. Depending on the civil service position other requirements may apply, including possessing good moral character and ordinary good health. Information concerning an applicant's eligibility may be ascertained in a manner deemed advisable by the civil service commission.
The civil service rules do not apply to positions specifically exempted by statute and, in some cases, positions specifically exempted by an agency director. For example, the State Civil Service Law does not apply to members and employees of the Legislature, officers of the Washington State Patrol, elective officers of the state, assistant attorneys general, and staff employed by the Department of Commerce to administer energy policy functions.
A number of exempt positions are expressly designated for various state agencies. The following Department of Social and Health Services positions are exempt:
The following Department of Social and Health Services positions are exempt from the State Civil Service Law: