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 secretary;
• the secretary's executive assistant;
• a maximum of six assistant secretaries, 13 division directors, and six regional directors, and one confidential secretary for each of these positions;
• a maximum of six bureau chiefs; and
• superintendents of institutions that have an average daily population of 100 or more residents.

The following Department of Social and Health Services positions are exempt from the State Civil Service Law:

• the secretary;
• the secretary's executive assistant;
• the chief of staff and deputy chief of staff;
• assistant and deputy assistant secretaries;
• senior directors;
• division directors;
• assistant and deputy division directors;
• regional administrators;
• district managers;
• executive officers and superintendents of institutions; and
• executive assistants supporting the above officers.

PRO: This bill essentially fixes some exemptions within DSHS to allow them to restructure in a way more suited with their current alignment. This does away with some of the barriers that limits positions and will aid the department in restructuring to allow them to appoint leaders to key positions to fully support the department's strategic development.