WSR 97-16-014

PROPOSED RULES

PERSONNEL RESOURCES BOARD

[Filed July 25, 1997, 2:56 p.m.]

Original Notice.

Exempt from preproposal statement of inquiry under RCW 34.05.310(4).

Title of Rule: WAC 356-26-030 Register designation.

Purpose: This rule pertains to human resources broad band classification and reduction in force registers.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 41.06 RCW.

Statute Being Implemented: RCW 41.06.150.

Summary: This modification will allow employees in the human resources consultant broad band classification to be placed on the reduction in force register for the tier(s) in which they meet under certain criteria.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Department of Personnel, 521 Capitol Way South, Olympia, WA, (360) 753-0468.

Name of Proponent: Department of Personnel, governmental.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: This rule defines the composition, ranking, life, and special provisions of registers. The purpose of this rule establishes certain criteria for placement of eligible names for employment or reemployment in a class. A proposal has been submitted to change the current classification system to allow for a new concept called "broad band approach." The "broad band approach" allows compensation through tiers. Tiers are equivalent to a class. If adopted, this modification would be necessary to allow employees in the human resources consultant broad band classification to be placed on the reduction in force register for their tier(s) in which they meet under certain criteria. The employee will be eligible for referral to positions with the same or similar duties as those in which they have held permanent status.

Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: See above.

No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Not required.

RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. These rules relate to internal government operations that are not subject to violation by a nongovernmental party. Therefore, pursuant to RCW 34.05.328 [(5)](b)(ii), section 201 does not apply.

Hearing Location: Department of Personnel, 521 Capitol Way South, Olympia, WA, on September 11, 1997, at 10:00 a.m.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Department of Personnel by September 4, 1997, TDD (360) 753-4107, or (360) 586-0509.

Submit Written Comments to: Sharon Peck, Department of Personnel, P.O. Box 47500, FAX (360) 586-4694, by September 9, 1997.

Date of Intended Adoption: September 11, 1997.

July 25, 1997

Dennis Karras

Secretary

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 94-10-008, filed 4/21/94, effective 5/31/94)

WAC 356-26-030 Register designation. (1) Agency reduction in force.

(a) Composition.

(i) The agency reduction in force register will consist of classes and the names of all employees who hold or have held permanent status in those classes and: (A) Have been notified they are scheduled for reduction in force; or (B) held permanent status prior to separation due to a reduction in force; or (C) who have accepted a voluntary demotion in a class in lieu of a reduction in force; or (D) were in a trial service period with another department and separated due to reduction in force; or (E) employees requesting to be placed on this register for classes held immediately prior to the position being reallocated downward; or (F) who were separated due to disability within the last year as provided in WAC 356-35-010 and who have submitted to the director of personnel a current statement from a physician or licensed mental health professional that they are physically and/or mentally able to perform the duties of the class for which the register is established.

(ii) Employees in the human resources consultant broad band classification will be placed on the reduction in force register for the tier(s) in which they meet the criteria listed in (a)(i) of this subsection. The employee will be eligible for referral to positions with the same or similar duties as those in which they have held permanent status.

(((ii))) (iii) The employee's name shall appear for all classifications for which he/she is not disabled in which he/she held permanent status since the employee's last separation other than a reduction in force, or in which he/she served more than six months on a position which would have meant permanent status had it been under the jurisdiction of the state personnel board at the time.

(b) Method of ranking.

(i) This register will be ranked according to seniority.

(c) Life of register.

(i) An eligible's name will normally remain on this register for three years.

(d) Special provisions.

(i) Employees appointed from this register will assume the same status they held prior to the reduction in force. Persons on this register will indicate the geographic areas in which they are available. Appointment of persons from this register to seasonal positions will be as provided in WAC 356-30-130.

(ii) An employee's name shall not appear for classes at or below the range level of a class in which the employee is serving on a permanent full-time basis, except:

(A) When the employee has accepted an option beyond a reasonable commuting distance in lieu of separation due to reduction in force. The employee's name may appear for classes at the same or lower range levels when the availability would return the employee back to his/her previous work location.

(B) When the employee has accepted a position in lieu of separation due to a reduction in force, in a different class series.

(C) Any other exceptions shall be approved by the director or designee.

(2) Service-wide reduction in force.

(a) Composition.

(i) This register will consist of the same names as the agency reduction in force register, except for those requesting to be on the agency reduction in force register following a reallocation downward.

(b) Method of ranking.

(i) This register will be ranked according to seniority.

(c) Life of register.

(i) An eligible's name will normally remain on this register for two years.

(d) Special provisions.

(i) Employees appointed from this register will assume the same status they held prior to the reduction in force. Persons on this register will indicate the geographic areas and departments for which they are available. Appointment of persons from this register to seasonal positions will be as provided in WAC 356-30-130.

(3) Dual-agency reversion.

(a) Composition.

(i) This register will contain the names of employees who while serving a trial service period in another agency or in a position under the jurisdiction of the higher education personnel board were either voluntarily or involuntarily reverted to their former class and status.

(b) Method of ranking.

(i) This register will be ranked according to total unbroken classified service.

(c) Life of register.

(i) An eligible's name will normally remain on this register for two years.

(d) Special provisions.

(i) This register refers to the agency from which promoted and the agency from which reverted. Employees appointed from this register will assume the status they held prior to promotion. Persons on this register will indicate the geographic area in which they are available.

(4) Agency promotional.

(a) Composition.

(i) This register will be established by appropriate classes for each agency and shall include the names of those current permanent employees of each agency who have served six months of a probationary period, or past permanent employees who have been separated due to reduction in force within the last year and who have received a passing final grade in the total promotional examination and are eligible to be certified. The names of past permanent employees who were separated due to disability within the last year as provided in WAC 356-35-010 shall also be included on this register provided that they submit to the director of personnel a statement from a physician or licensed mental health professional that they are physically and/or mentally able to perform the duties of the class for which the register is established and they have received a passing final grade as required for other promotional applicants.

(b) Method of ranking.

(i) This register shall be ranked according to final score from the highest to the lowest.

(c) Life of register.

(i) An eligible's name will normally remain on this register for an indefinite period unless replaced by a register established by the use of a substantially new examination.

(d) Special provisions.

(i) An employee may convert any current open competitive rating to this register after six months.

(5) Higher education reduction in force.

(a) Composition.

(i) This register shall contain the names of permanent employees ranked in order of seniority from higher education institutions or related boards laid off or scheduled for layoff and who have requested placement on this register. The employee's name shall appear for all classifications or equivalent classifications for which the employee held permanent status.

(b) Method of ranking.

(i) This register will be ranked according to seniority.

(c) Life of the register.

(i) An eligible's name will normally remain on this register for two years from the date of placement on the register.

(d) Special provisions.

(i) The employee must request placement on this register within thirty calendar days of the effective date of layoff or previously have requested placement on the inter-system employment register due to layoff. The employee may request placement on lower classes in the same class series or equivalent classes and must demonstrate the ability to meet the minimum qualifications and pass the qualifying examination for classes in which the employee has held permanent status, or lower classes in the same class series, or equivalent classes. Employees appointed from this register shall be required to complete a trial service period of six months.

(6) Service-wide reversion.

(a) Composition.

(i) This register will contain the names of employees who while serving a trial service period in another agency or in a position under the jurisdiction of the higher education personnel board were either voluntarily or involuntarily reverted to their former class and status.

(b) Method of ranking.

(i) This register will be ranked according to total unbroken classified service.

(c) Life of register.

(i) An eligible's name will normally remain on this register for two years.

(d) Special provisions.

(i) This register refers to all agencies, except the two which are involved with the dual-agency transaction. Persons on this register will indicate the geographic areas and agencies for which they are available.

(7) Transfer.

(a) Composition.

(i) This register shall contain the names of all permanent employees who have submitted a request to be considered for transfer.

(b) Method of ranking.

(i) This register will be unranked.

(c) Life of register.

(i) An eligible's name shall normally remain on this register for one year.

(d) Special provisions.

(i) To use this register, the employee must transfer either within the same class or the same pay range having the same salary range number.

(8) Voluntary demotion.

(a) Composition.

(i) This register shall contain the names of all permanent employees who have submitted a request for and are eligible under the rules to be considered for a voluntary demotion.

(b) Method of ranking.

(i) This register shall be unranked. However, employees subject to reduction in force shall have priority.

(c) Life of register.

(i) An eligible's name shall normally remain on this register for one year.

(d) Special provisions.

(i) Employees appointed from this register to a class not previously held will serve a trial service period. All examination ratings for the class from which demoted shall be nullified; however, the employee may be elevated to the class from which demoted with permanent status without benefit of certification provided permanent status was achieved at the higher level.

(9) Service-wide promotional.

(a) Composition.

(i) This register shall contain the names of those permanent employees who have served six months of a probationary period or past permanent employees who have been separated due to reduction in force within the last year who have obtained a passing final grade in the total promotional examination. The names of past permanent employees who were separated due to disability within the last year as provided in WAC 356-35-010 shall also be included on this register provided that they submit to the director of personnel a statement from a physician or licensed mental health professional that they are physically and/or mentally able to perform the duties of the class for which the register is established and they have received a passing final score as required for other promotional applicants.

(b) Method of ranking.

(i) This register shall be ranked according to final score, from the highest to the lowest.

(c) Life of register.

(i) An eligible's name will normally remain on this register for an indefinite period unless replaced by a register established by the use of a substantially new examination.

(d) Special provisions.

(i) An employee may convert any current open competitive rating to this register after six months. Persons on this register will indicate the geographic areas and agencies for which they are available.

(10) Reemployment.

(a) Composition.

(i) This register shall contain the names of all past permanent employees who have submitted a request and an application for reemployment within five years from the date of separation, provided that the names of employees separated for cause while performing similar duties shall not be placed on this register except with the approval of the agency from which they were separated for cause. This register shall also contain the names of those employees who have been in reversion or reduction in force status and have been offered and declined employment. The director of personnel may extend the time during which an employee may apply for reemployment if the director of personnel has determined that a need for eligibles exists in a certain class and/or geographical area.

(b) Method of ranking.

(i) This register shall be unranked.

(c) Life of register.

(i) An eligible's name will normally remain on this register for two years.

(d) Special provisions.

(i) Persons reemployed from this register will serve a probationary period. The former employee may limit or enlarge upon his/her area of availability either by department or geographic area.

(11) Inter-system employment.

(a) Composition. This register shall contain the names of permanent classified employees under the jurisdiction of the higher education personnel board who have submitted an application and who have passed the required examination.

(b) Method of ranking. This register shall be ranked according to final passing score from the highest to the lowest.

(c) Life of register. An eligible's name will normally remain on this register for one year.

(d) Special provisions. Employees appointed from this register will serve a six month trial service period.

(12) Open competitive.

(a) Composition.

(i) This register will contain the names of all persons who have passed the entrance examination.

(b) Method of ranking.

(i) This register shall be ranked by the final score.

(c) Life of register.

(i) An eligible's name will normally remain on this register for one year unless changed by the director of personnel.

(d) Special provisions.

(i) Persons on this register will indicate the geographic areas for which they are available.