The director shall adopt and may amend rules for the administration and implementation of this chapter in accordance with chapter 17A. Rulemaking shall be carried out with due regard to the terms of collective bargaining agreements. A rule shall not supersede a provision of a collective bargaining agreement negotiated under chapter 20. The rules shall provide:
1. For the preparation, maintenance, and revision of a job classification plan that encompasses each job in the executive branch, excluding job classifications under the state board of regents, based upon assigned duties and responsibilities, so that the same general qualifications may reasonably be required for and the same pay plan may be equitably applied to all jobs in the same job classification. The director shall classify the position of every employee in the executive branch, excluding employees of the state board of regents, into one of the classes in the plan. An appointing authority or employee adversely affected by a job classification or reclassification may file an appeal with the director. The classification or reclassification of a position that would cause the expenditure of additional salary funds shall not become effective if the expenditure of funds would be in excess of the total amount budgeted for the department of the appointing authority until budgetary approval has been obtained from the director of the department of management.
When the public interest requires a diminution or increase of employees in any position or type of employment not otherwise provided by law, or the creation or abolishment of any position or type of employment, the director, acting in good faith, shall so notify the governor. Thereafter, the position or type of employment shall stand abolished or created and the number of employees therein reduced or increased.
2. For pay plans covering all employees in the executive branch of state government, excluding employees of the state board of regents, after consultation with the governor and appointing authorities, and consistent with the terms of collective bargaining agreements negotiated under chapter 20.
3. For open competitive examinations to test the relative fitness of new applicants for the respective positions. Such examinations shall be practical in character and shall relate to such matters as will fairly test the ability of the applicant to discharge the duties of the position to which appointment is sought.
Where the Code of Iowa establishes certification, registration and licensing provisions, such documents shall be considered prima facie evidence of basic skills accomplishment and such persons shall be exempt from further basic skills testing.
Examinations need not be held until after the rules have been adopted, the service classified, and a pay plan established, but shall be held no later than one year after September 1, 1967. Such examinations shall be announced publicly at least fifteen days in advance of the date fixed for the filing of applications therefor, and shall be advertised through the communications media. The director may, however, in the director's discretion, continue to receive applications and examine candidates for a period adequate to assure a sufficient number of eligibles to meet the needs of the system, and may add the names of successful candidates to existing eligible lists in accordance with their respective ratings.
4. For promotions which shall give appropriate consideration to the applicant's qualifications, record of performance, and conduct. Vacancies shall be filled by promotion whenever practicable and in the best interest of the system and shall be by competitive or noncompetitive examination. Such examinations shall be of the same nature and content as those used in establishing competitive registers for the class. A promotion means a change in the status of an employee, from a position in one class to a position in another class having a higher entrance salary.
5. For the establishment of eligible lists for appointment and promotion, upon which lists shall be placed the names of successful candidates in the order of their relative excellence in the respective examinations. Eligibility for appointment from any such list shall continue for at least one year and not longer than three years.
6. For the rejection of candidates or eligibles who fail to comply with reasonable requirements such as physical condition, training and experience, or who are habitual criminals or alcoholics who have not been rehabilitated from the use of alcohol for a period of six months, or addicted to narcotics, or who have attempted any deception or fraud in connection with an examination.
7. For the appointment by the appointing authority of a person standing among the highest six scores on the appropriate eligible list to fill a vacancy.
8. For a probation period of six months, excluding educational or training leave, before appointment may be made complete, and during which period a probationer may be discharged or reduced in class or rank, or replaced on the eligible list. The appointing authority shall within ten days prior to the expiration of an employee's probation period notify the director in writing whether the services of the employee have been satisfactory or unsatisfactory. If the employee's services are unsatisfactory, the employee shall be dropped from the payroll on or before the expiration of the probation period. If satisfactory, the appointment shall be deemed permanent. The determination of the appointing authority shall be final and conclusive.
9. For emergency employment for not more than sixty calendar days in any twelve-month period without examination, and for intermittent employment for not more than one hundred twenty calendar days in any twelve-month period. For intermittent employment the employee must have had a probationary, permanent, or temporary appointment.
10. For provisional employment without competitive examination when there is no appropriate eligible list available. No such provisional employment shall continue longer than one hundred eighty calendar days nor shall successive provisional appointments be allowed, except during the first two years after September 1, 1967, in order to avoid stoppage of orderly conduct of the business of the state.
11. For transfer from a position in one department to a similar position in another department involving similar qualifications, duties, responsibilities, and salary ranges. Whenever an employee transfers or is transferred from one state department or agency to another state department or agency, the employee's seniority rights, any accumulated sick leave, and accumulated vacation time, as provided in the law, shall be transferred to the new place of employment and credited to the employee. Employees who are subject to contracts negotiated under chapter 20 which include transfer provisions shall be governed by the contract provisions.
12. For reinstatement of persons who have attained permanent status and who resign in good standing or who are laid off from their positions without fault or delinquency on their part, within a period equal to the period of their continuous employment with the state but for a period of not longer than two years.
13. For establishing in cooperation with the appointing authorities a system of service records of all employees in the executive branch of state government, excluding employees of the state board of regents, which service records shall be considered in determining salary increases provided in the pay plan; as a factor in promotion tests; as a factor in determining the order of layoffs because of lack of funds or work and in reinstatement; as a factor in demotions, discharges, or transfers; and for the regular evaluation, at least annually, of the qualifications and performance of those employees.
14. For layoffs by reason of lack of funds or work, or organization, and for the recall of employees so laid off, giving primary consideration in layoffs to the performance record and secondary consideration to the length of service. An employee who has been laid off may be on a recall list for one year, which list shall be exhausted by the agency enforcing the layoff before selection of an employee may be made from the promotional or nonpromotional list of eligibles in the employee's classification. Employees who are subject to contracts negotiated under chapter 20 which include layoff and recall provisions shall be governed by the contract provisions.
15. For imposition, as a disciplinary measure, of a suspension from the service without pay for not longer than thirty days.
16. For discharge, suspension, or reduction in job classification or pay grade for any of the following causes: failure to perform assigned duties; inadequacy in performing assigned duties; negligence; inefficiency; incompetence; insubordination; unrehabilitated alcoholism or narcotics addiction; dishonesty; unlawful discrimination; failure to maintain a license, certificate, or qualification necessary for a job classification or position; any act or conduct which adversely affects the employee's performance or the employing agency; or any other good cause for discharge, suspension, or reduction. The person discharged, suspended, or reduced shall be given a written statement of the reasons for the discharge, suspension, or reduction within twenty-four hours after the discharge, suspension, or reduction. All persons concerned with the administration of this chapter shall use their best efforts to insure that this chapter and the rules adopted hereunder shall not be a means of protecting or retaining unqualified or unsatisfactory employees, and shall discharge, suspend, or reduce in job classification or pay grade all employees who should be discharged, suspended, or reduced for any of the causes stated in this subsection.
17. For establishment of a uniform plan for resolving employee grievances and complaints. Employees who are subject to contracts negotiated under chapter 20 which include grievance and complaint provisions shall be governed by the contract provisions.
18. For attendance regulations, and special leaves of absence, with or without pay, or reduced pay, in the various classes of positions in the executive branch, excluding positions under the state board of regents. Employees who are subject to contracts negotiated under chapter 20 which include leave of absence provisions shall be governed by the contract provisions. Annual sick leave and vacation time shall be granted in accordance with section 70A.1.
19. For the development and operation of programs to improve the work effectiveness and morale of employees in the executive branch, excluding employees of the state board of regents, including training, safety, health, welfare, counseling, recreation, and employee relations.
20. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, no rule or regulation shall be adopted by the department which would deprive the state of Iowa, or any of its agencies or institutions of federal grants or other forms of financial assistance.
21. For veterans preference through a provision that veterans as defined in section 35.1 shall have five points added to the grade or score attained in qualifying examinations for appointment to jobs.
Veterans who have a service-connected disability or are receiving compensation, disability benefits or pension under laws administered by the veterans administration shall have ten points added to the grades attained in qualifying examinations. A veteran who has been awarded the purple heart for disabilities incurred in action shall be considered to have a service-connected disability.
22. For acceptance of the qualifications, requirements, regulations, and general provisions established under other sections of the Code pertaining to professional registration, certification, and licensing.
23. For the establishment of work test appointments to job classifications such as laborers, attendants, aides, food service workers, laundry workers, custodial workers, or similar types of employment when the character of the work makes it impracticable to effectively supply the needs of the departments by written or other type of competitive examination. If this subsection conflicts with any other provisions of this chapter, the provisions of this subsection govern the positions to which it applies. All persons appointed to the positions specified in this subsection shall serve a probationary period in accordance with this chapter, may acquire permanent status, and are subject to the same rules as other employees. Such persons shall be required to pass promotional examinations as prescribed by this chapter and the rules adopted by the director before they may be promoted to a higher classification.
[C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 19A.9]
84 Acts, ch 1067, § 6; 85 Acts, ch 212, §21; 86 Acts, ch 1245, § 211, 212; 97 Acts, ch 28, §3, 4; 98 Acts, ch 1119, § 27; 99 Acts, ch 180, §1
Referred to in § 19A.8A, 19A.24, 19B.12, 147.102, 147.103A, 152.2, 313.4, 474.1
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