STATE OF LOUISIANA

DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA

General Circular No. 001444

To: Heads of State Agencies and Human Resource Directors

Subject: Proposed Rule Changes for August Commission Hearing

Issue Date: July 2, 2001

The State Civil Service Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday August 8, 2001 to consider the following rule proposals. The hearing will take place at 9:00 a.m. and will be held in the Department of Civil Service Second Floor Hearing Room, DOTD Annex Building, 1201 Capitol Access Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Amend and Re-enact Rules 7.4(d) and 7.4(d)1

(a) thru (c) …

(d) An applicant who is admitted to a continuously open Civil Service written test series, except those covered by rule 7.4(d)2 may test up to three (3) times for the same test series in any twelve(12) month period provided at least four (4) weeks have elapsed from the date he or she last took that examination. The applicant's official grade shall be the most recent examination.

1. An applicant who receives a score based on an experience and training rating, except for those covered by rule 7.4(d)2 may apply for the same eligible list up to three (3) times in any twelve (12) month period provided at least four(4) weeks have elapsed from the date he or she last applied for that eligible list. The applicant's official grade shall be the most recent examination.

2. The Director may designate certain exams or selection procedures for which he will establish retest eligibility that is different from that established by rules 7.4(d) and 7.4(d)1. This will be done in cases where the cost of administration per examinee, nature of the test, or other factors make it advisable to limit retesting. The applicant's official grade shall be the most recent examination.

(e) thru (f) …

EXPLANATION

Rule 7.4(d) will provide for more frequent retesting which gives applicants more opportunity to improve their test scores without compromising the test integrity. Rule 7.4(d)1 sets specific reapplication standards for ratings of experience and training. Rule 7.4(d)2 gives the Director the responsibility to set re-test standards for alternative selection procedures such as oral exams and work simulations.

Amend and Re-enact Rule 7.24(c)

7.24 Removal of Name from Eligible List.

(a) thru (b) …

(c) The Director will establish expiration dates for Civil Service grades.

EXPLANATION

The Director will set the expiration date for Civil Service scores. For the most part, permanent state employees will receive non-expiring grades and non-permanent employees and applicants will have a one year expiration date that can be extended for additional year (s). Some grades may be for a single vacancy and expire after the vacancy is processed.

Persons interested in making comments relative to these proposals may do so at the public hearing or by writing to the Director of State Civil Service at PO Box 94111, Capitol Station, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-9111.

If any accommodations are needed, please notify us prior to the meeting.

Sincerely,

Allen H. Reynolds

Director