TALLAHASSEE – House Bill (HB) 887, also known as the “Career Service System” bill, won approval from the House Policy & Budget Council and moved forward for consideration by the full House. The bill requires that the Department of Management Services (DMS) develop rules creating objective criteria for retaining employees during a layoff and allow state employees to appeal involuntary transfers and present grievances.

“For too long, state employees have not been afforded the employment processes extended to other employees in the non-state employment market. HB 887 is an important step in providing our state employees with a fair and logical process of appeals and objective criteria for retention,” stated Representative Marti Coley (R-Marianna), sponsor of HB 887. “My bill underscores our efforts to provide our valued state employees with the systems and procedures to strengthen standards, retain quality employees and provide them with a grievance process that is fair. In the end, these changes benefit Floridians by providing us with a professional and qualified workforce,” concluded Representative Coley.

HB 887 revises the changes made to the Career Service System by the 2001 Legislature by requiring DMS to develop layoff procedures that require use of objective measures of length of service, comparative merit, demonstrated skills, and employee experience. It also provides that suspension or dismissal of a Career Service System employee may be imposed only for cause to a person who has achieved permanent status following completion of a one-year probationary period.

The bill now moves to the full House for final consideration.

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