SENATE DOCKET, NO. 203        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1427

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michael F. Rush

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying resolve:

Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to the civil service exam.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 203        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1427

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1258 OF 2013-2014.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to the civil service exam.

Resolved, That there shall be a special commission to make an investigation and study of the civil service examination conducted by the human resources division of the commonwealth.  The commission shall consist of the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on state administration and regulatory oversight, who shall serve as chairs of the commission; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on public safety and homeland security; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on public service; the secretary of the executive office for administration and finance, ex-officio; the secretary of the executive office of public safety, ex-officio; the chairman of the civil service commission established pursuant to section 4I of chapter 7 of the General Laws; a representative appointed by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association; a representative appointed by the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts; a representative appointed by the Massachusetts Municipal Association; a representative of the Massachusetts Coalition of Police; a representative appointed by the Municipal Police Coalition; a representative appointed by the Massachusetts State Fraternal Order of Police; a representative appointed by the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union; a representative appointed by the State Police Association of Massachusetts; a representative appointed by the Massachusetts Environmental Police Officers Association; and a representative appointed by the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts.

The commission’s study shall include a review of: (i) the merits of the civil service examination in identifying qualified applicants for municipal and state employment; (ii) the timeliness of examinations and the pronouncement of scores; (iii) the satisfaction of participating municipalities and government entities in posting vacant positions and securing timely appointments of qualified employees; (iv) the ability of the test to adequately evaluate the skill and aptitude necessary for a candidate to perform the duties associated with the position sought; and (v) any related questions relative to the effectiveness and value of the continued use of a civil service examination in identifying qualified, capable candidates for employment in the commonwealth.

The commission shall report to the clerks of the house and senate the results of its investigation and study, and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry such recommendations into effect by filing them on or before June 30, 2016.  The commission may issue preliminary or interim reports to the general court before said date.