Senate Bill 506 proposes significant changes to the state civil service system, focusing on the hiring process, probationary periods, reinstatement rights, and disciplinary actions. The bill replaces competitive procedures with competitive examinations for appointments and promotions, ensuring that selections are based on merit. It introduces a preference system for veterans and their spouses, allowing them to receive preference points during the certification process. Additionally, the bill extends the deadline for making appointments from 30 to 60 days after certification and modifies the probationary period for new hires from one year to six months, with specific provisions for supervisory roles.

The bill also revises the standards for just cause in disciplinary actions, allowing adverse employment actions against classified employees only for just cause, while eliminating the requirement for progressive discipline in certain cases. It changes the threshold for considering an employee's position abandoned from three to five consecutive working days of absence without notification. Furthermore, the bill grants reinstatement privileges for employees who leave the classified service without misconduct for up to five years and provides restoration rights for laid-off employees for three years. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the civil service process while enhancing protections and rights for employees.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 20.865(1)(dm), 20.865, 20.928(1f), 20.928, 62.13(4)(d), 62.13, 63.08(1)(f)1, 63.08, 63.08(1)(f)2, 63.08(1)(f)3, 63.37, 63.39(2m), 63.39, 66.0509(1), 66.0509, 230.01(2)(bm), 230.01, 230.01(2)(bp), 230.04(13m), 230.04, 230.04(14), 230.04(19), 230.046(2), 230.046, 230.05(10), 230.05, 230.06(1)(m), 230.06