11—61.2 (8A) Appeals.
	 61.2(1) Appeal of position classification decisions.
	  a.   	 Appeal of a position classification decision shall be in accordance with rule 11—52.5(8A) and the contested case provisions of Iowa Code chapter 17A.
	  b.   	 The appellant (including all appellants in the case of a group hearing), an employee who is the appellant’s representative, and employees directed by the appointing authority to attend the classification appeal hearing by the appointing authority or the director shall be in paid status for the time spent at and traveling to and from the hearing during their regularly scheduled hours of work. In addition, only employees directed by management to attend the hearing shall, if eligible for overtime compensation, be in paid status for the time spent at and traveling to and from the hearing outside of their regularly scheduled hours of work.
	  c.   	 The appointing authority shall not authorize mileage or the use of a state vehicle for employees to attend or participate in a classification appeal hearing, except for those employees who are directed to attend the hearing by the appointing authority or the director.
	  d.   	 A permanent employee whose position has been reclassified downward and who alleges that the position classification process has been used to circumvent a reduction in force as provided for in rule 11—60.3(8A) may appeal in writing to the director. Right of appeal shall expire unless filed with the director within 14 calendar days following the date on the final position classification notice or, in the event of a classification appeal hearing, the classification appeal committee decision notice. If the director finds for the appellant, the appointing authority shall either submit a reduction in force plan or reassign duties to the appellant sufficient to retain the appellant’s prior position classification.
	 61.2(2) Reserved.
	 61.2(3) Appeal of examination rating. Following examination, an applicant may file a written appeal to the employment appeal board in the department of inspections and appeals for a review of the rating received on the examination for the sole purpose of assuring that uniform rating procedures were applied consistently and fairly. Right of appeal shall expire unless filed with the board within 30 calendar days following the notice of the examination results.
A rating on an examination may be corrected if it is found by the employment appeal board that a substantial error has been made by the department. The correction of a rating shall not, however, affect any certifications or appointments already made.
	 61.2(4) Appeal of disqualification, restriction, or removal from eligible lists. An applicant who has been disqualified or whose name has been restricted or removed from an eligible list in accordance with rule 11—54.2(8A) or 11—55.2(8A), or who has been restricted from certification in accordance with rule 11—56.7(8A) may file a written appeal to the employment appeal board in the department of inspections and appeals for a review of that action. The written appeal must be filed with the board within 30 calendar days following the notice of disqualification, removal from the eligible list, or restriction from certification. The burden of proof to establish eligibility shall rest with the appellant.
When an appeal is generated as the result of an action initiated by the department, the department shall be responsible for representation. When an appeal is generated as the result of an action initiated by an appointing authority through the department, the appointing authority shall pay the costs of the appeal assessed to the department and shall participate in representation as requested by the department.
If the applicant’s name is restored to an eligible list, that decision shall not affect any certifications or appointments already made.
	 61.2(5) Appeal of grievance decisions. An employee who has alleged a violation of 2003 Iowa Code Supplement sections 8A.401 to 8A.458 or the rules adopted to implement 2003 Iowa Code Supplement sections 8A.401 to 8A.458 may, within 30 calendar days after the date the director’s response at the third step of the grievance procedure was issued or should have been issued, file an appeal with the public employment relations board. A nontemporary, noncontract employee covered by merit system provisions who is suspended, reduced in pay within the same pay grade, disciplinarily demoted, or discharged, except during the employee’s period of probationary status may, if not satisfied with the decision of the director, request an appeal hearing before the public employment relations board within 30 calendar days after the date the director’s decision was issued or should have been issued. However, when the grievance concerns allegations of discrimination within the meaning of Iowa Code chapter 216, the Iowa civil rights commission procedures shall be the exclusive remedy for appeal and shall, in such instances, constitute final agency action. In all other instances, decisions by the public employment relations board constitute final agency action.
	 61.2(6) Appeal of disciplinary actions. Any nontemporary, noncontract employee covered by merit system provisions who is suspended, reduced in pay within the same pay grade, disciplinarily demoted, or discharged, except during the employee’s period of probationary status, shall bypass steps one and two of the grievance procedure provided for in rule 11—61.1(8A) and may file an appeal in writing to the director for a review of the action within 7 calendar days after the effective date of the action. The appeal shall be on the forms prescribed by the director. The director shall affirm, modify or reverse the action and shall give a written decision to the employee within 30 calendar days after the receipt of the appeal. The time may be extended by mutual agreement of the parties. If not satisfied with the decision of the director, the employee may request an appeal hearing before the public employment relations board as provided in 11—subrule 61.2(5).
	 61.2(7) Appeal of reduction in force. An employee who is to be or has been laid off or who has changed classes in lieu of layoff, and who alleges that the reduction in force was used to circumvent the rights of appeal provided for in subrule 61.2(6) or subrule 61.2(1), paragraph “a” or “d,” may file an appeal with the director within 30 calendar days following receipt of the notice of reduction in force to the employee from the appointing authority.
	 61.2(8) Remedies. All remedies provided in rule 11—61.2(8A) must be exhausted pursuant to Iowa Code section 17A.19, subsection 1, prior to petition for judicial review.