pennsylvania STATE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION 2018 - 2019 ANNUAL REPORT State Civil Service Commissioners Teresa Osborne Chairman Gregory M. Lane Bryan R. Lentz Commissioner Commissioner Table of Contents 1 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 2 STATE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION OFFICES 3 COMMISSION IMPLEMENTS ACT 71 OF 2018 4 NEW CIVIL SERVICE APPEAL REQUEST FORM AND APPEALS INFORMATION BOOKLET 5 COMMISSION WEBSITE REDESIGN 6 RESCINDED CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVES 8 STAFF CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS 13 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES OFFICE 15 AUDITS AND EXEMPTIONS 16 LEGAL SERVICES OFFICE From The Executive Director I am pleased to release the State Civil Service Commission’s Annual Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19. This report highlights accomplishments including the implementation of significant reforms resulting from the enactment of Act 71 of 2018. For over 75 years, the State Civil Service Commission (Commission) served as the state agency statutorily responsible for providing consolidated merit employment services to client agencies at the state and local government levels. Created by the Civil Service Act of 1941, the Commission’s role was to recruit, foster and promote a professional workforce and work environment based solely on jobseekers’ qualifications, talents, skills and abilities to perform public sector jobs. During FY 2018-19, the Commission worked collaboratively with the Jeffrey T. Wallace Governor’s Office of Administration (OA) to transition civil service recruit- Executive Director to-hire employment functions to the OA in accordance with the provisions of Act 71 of 2018. As of March 28, 2019, I am pleased to report civil service employment functions related to job application, job posting, eligibility review, qualification determination, examination result/score, veterans’ preference, etc. were successfully transferred to the OA. Civil service functions related to appeals, audits and requests for exemptions continue to be performed by the Commission. This significant transformation required the cooperation and coordination of many individuals at all levels of multiple organizations in order to minimize any operational disruptions in the delivery of merit employment services. On behalf of the Commission, I wish to sincerely thank all who were involved in these efforts. Your efforts ensured a smooth, orderly and successful service transition. For FY 2019-20, the Commission will initiate further steps to enhance the delivery of services to include performing a review of the civil service appeal process, streamlining the civil service exemption review process and finalizing plans to initiate audits of the classified service to ensure adherence to merit system employment principles and practices as required by Act 71 of 2018. Sincerely, Jeffrey T. Wallace Executive Director 1 State Civil Service Commission PITTSBURGH HARRISBURG PHILADELPHIA Central Office/Harrisburg Strawberry Square Bowman Tower, 4th Floor 320 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 Western Regional Office/Pittsburgh 411 Seventh Avenue, Room 410 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Eastern Regional Office/Philadelphia 110 North 8th Street, Suite 503 Philadelphia, PA 19107 717-783-8806 [email protected] Telecommunication Relay Service (TRS) 711 (For hearing, speech impaired or other individuals) 2 Commission Implements Act 71 of 2018 The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed determinations, exempt positions from civil and Governor Tom Wolf signed into law service, and audit Commonwealth compliance Act 71 on June 28, 2018. Prime legislative with the Civil Service Act – the latter to provide sponsors for the law were former Pennsylvania checks and balances relating to the proposed State Senator and Chairman of the State Senate transfer of merit-based hiring to the Office of Government Committee Mike Folmer and Administration.” Pennsylvania State Representative and former Effective March 28, 2019, the provisions of Chairman of the House State Committee Daryl Act 71 of 2018 were implemented. Metcalfe. The intent of the law was to modernize the civil Previously enacted, Act 167 of 2016 established service merit selection and hiring process. As a uniform employment application system to Senator Folmer said, “Our current legislation apply for both civil service and non-civil service proposes further modernization to better meet job opportunities. Effective April 23, 2018, civil customer’s needs: those seeking employment service employment applications were formally with the Commonwealth – especially veterans transitioned to a new system managed by the – and state government agencies needing to Governor’s Office of Administration and hosted hire people.” The law accomplishes this goal by NEOGOV, Inc. “by moving hiring responsibilities from the Civil Jobseekers for civil service and non-civil service Service Commission to the Governor’s Office of job opportunities now use www.employment. Administration.” These responsibilities include: pa.gov to view open job opportunities and “merit-based hiring, civil service applications, apply for positions. This new Commonwealth certifications, examinations, and, promotions.” employment website offers jobseekers the Under the provisions of Act 71 of 2018, the opportunity to subscribe to “Job Alerts” by Commission retained jurisdiction to conduct selecting job categories. When a job title civil service appeals over disputed personnel opens in one of the selected categories, the decisions and actions. Senator Folmer jobseeker is notified by email and can access said, “This would include the Commission’s the employment website to view available job authority to: conduct hearings and render opportunities. 3 New Civil Service Appeal Request Form and Appeals Information Booklet Pennsylvania State Civil Service Commission The Commission is a three-member, bipartisan, independent body appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Pennsylvania State Senate. Of the members, one is designated by the Governor as chairman and one must be a veteran. During Fiscal Year 2018-19,Act 71the of 2018 (Civil Commission Service Reform) was signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf on June 28, 2018. Its purpose Table of Contents is to ensure Pennsylvania maintains its long-standing merit-based hiring system, preserves its commitment to What is an appeal? developed and introducedveterans’ a preference, revised and in personnel actionsCivil ensures anService appeal can be filed with the Commission. An appeal asks the State Civil Service Commission (Commission) to What is an appeal? .................................... 1 The Commissioners hear and rule on appeals filed by employees and job seekers involving claims against state review a personnel action. An appeal may challenge the merits of a ............................ 1 agencies, applicable Pennsylvania counties and housing authorities. The Commission, provides a fair and impartial personnel action, or allege discriminatory action in violation of Act 71 of Who can file an appeal? forum for appeals to be heard and decisions rendered. 2018. Appeal Request Form and Appeals Information What actions are appealable to Civil service employees who are covered by a collective bargaining the Commission? ....................................... 2 agreement and want to challenge a contract interpretation should contact Booklet. The new form and booklet are found on their respective union or human resources office regarding the filing of What are the two types of appeals? .......... 2 grievances. The Commission cannot interpret the terms of a collective the Commission’s website at www.scsc.pa.gov bargaining agreement. How must appeals be filed? ...................... 2 The possible remedies for a successful appeal may include Is there a time limit to file an appeal? ........ 2 reinstatement, recovering lost wages and benefits, modifying discipline, under “Hearing and Appeals”, and “Individuals repeating the hiring process, removal of discipline, or removal of What happens when an performance review. This list is not all-inclusive and you may suggest appeal is received? ................................... 2 another remedy. Ultimately, the Commission determines the appropriate .................... 3 Filing Appeals.” The form was redesigned to resolution. What if my appeal is denied? The hearing room in Strawberry Square Complex, Harrisburg Must an appellant be represented be more user friendly in a PDF writable format. by an attorney? .......................................... 3 What happens at a hearing? ..................... 3 Mailing Address: Physical Address: Email: [email protected] The booklet clarifies andState Civil Serviceprovides Commission State Civiladditional Service Commission Telephone : (717) 783-2924 Who can file an appeal? If I represent myself how do I ............................ 4 Legal Services Office Strawberry Square Any regular or probationary employee in the classified service, or job prepare for the hearing? : (717) 772-5120 P.O. Box 569 Bowman Tower, 4th Floor Fax applicant, may appeal an employment action. A non-civil service What accommodations are information about the civilHarrisburg, PA service 17108-0569 320 Marketappeal Street -selection for appointment to a position TRS: 711 employee may only appeal a non available to appellants? ............................. 5 Harrisburg, PA in the classified service. A person who files an appeal is referred to as an process and procedure. appellant. How do I get subpoenas? ...................... 5, 6 Any person adversely