State Personnel Board

The State Personnel Board oversees the operations and administration of the State Personnel Department. The Board consists of five members, each serving staggered six-year terms. The Governor appoints two members, while the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House each appoint one member. In addition, one member must be a classified state employee (i.e., an employee subject to all merit system rules and regulations) elected by the employees within the classified service.

By law, the Board must meet at least once per month. The Board handles all matters at its monthly Board meeting, which include the following principal functions:

• Adopting and amending its rules and regulations;
• Adopting and modifying classifications and corresponding salary ranges;
• Adopting and modifying the State’s Pay Plan;
• Conducting appeals of employees that have been dismissed from State employment;
• Representing the taxpayers’ interest in the improvement and administration of personnel management within the State system;
• Advising and assisting the Personnel Director.

While the law provides independence and continuity of the system from one administration to the next, the Governor must still provide approval in matters of fundamental importance. As such, the Governor must approve all rules and regulations promulgated by the Board, prior to those rules becoming effective. Further, the Governor may approve, change, or disapprove the Board’s amendments to the State Pay Plan.