BILL NUMBER: S986
SPONSOR: BROUK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to direct the department of civil service to conduct a study on
competitive examinations for public employment to determine whether the
contents of such examinations have a discriminatory effect on minority
examinees; and providing for the repeal of such provision upon expira-
tion thereof
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The legislation requires the Department of Civil Service to conduct a
study on competitive examinations for public employment to determine
whether the contents of such examinations have a discriminatory effect
on minority candidates.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Part (a) directs the Department of Civil Service to conduct a
study on competitive examinations for public employment held by the
state Department of Civil Service and by municipal commissions to deter-
mine whether the contents of such examinations have a discriminatory
effect on minority examinees. Such study shall include, but not be
limited to: (i) the total number of minority and non-minority compet-
itive examination examinees; (ii) a comparison of competitive examina-
tion results for minority examinees compared to non-minority examinees.
Section 2: The Department of Civil Service may request, and is author-
ized to receive, any information from any agency that is relevant and
material to the completion of the study under section two of this act.
Section 3: No later than one year after the effective date of this act,
the state Department of Civil Service shall deliver a report of its
findings of the study conducted pursuant to section two of this act to
the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the
assembly, the minority leader of the senate, and the minority leader of
the assembly.
Section 4: This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and
be deemed repealed two years after such date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
We are interested in learning how the civil service exam has led to the
under-employment of minorities. Civil Service exams are used to deter-
mine who is eligible for employment solely based on knowledge. Current-
ly, our Black and Brown communities have not been given a fair process
in obtaining Civil Service positions. We are determined to hold these
agencies accountable by comparing the data between minority and non-mi-
nority examinations.
 
LEGISATIVE HISTORY:
2023: S7634 Referred to Rules.
2024: S7634 Referred to Civil Service and Pensions.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately after it becomes law.