The bill proposes amendments to the General Laws regarding the merit system and the Department of Administration's responsibilities. It revises the duration of employment lists to a maximum of two years, removing the option for extension by the personnel administrator. The certification and appointment process is also modified, requiring all names on the employment list to be certified and appointing authorities to select candidates in ranked order. If a candidate is unavailable or cannot be contacted within five business days, their name is removed from the list. The bill eliminates the requirement for the personnel administrator to certify additional names for each extra vacancy. It also outlines the department's duties, including budget administration, accounting systems, purchasing, property management, and operating a merit system. The bill mandates quarterly social worker tests and the maintenance of an adequate hiring list for the Department of Human Services.

Additionally, the bill details the Department of Children, Youth, and Families' responsibilities, focusing on services for children, particularly those who are abused, neglected, or have special needs. It includes provisions for establishing fee schedules for adoption services, developing programs for children with emotional or behavioral disorders, and defining "seriously emotionally disturbed child" and "functional developmental disability." The bill reduces the age limit for a "functional developmental disability" from under 30 to under 18 years old. It also addresses transition planning for children with serious emotional disturbances or developmental delays and extends the hiring process's effective date for social caseworkers or child protective investigators from September 30, 2024, to March 15, 2026. An interim report on the hiring process is required by March 15, 2024, and the act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
3003: 42-11-2, 42-72-5