Brief (1)
HB 2481, as amended, would authorize the Secretary of Administration to approve workforce pilot projects to determine whether a specified change in human resource management policies or procedures, or a new program, would result in improved statewide human resources management and whether that change is fiscally responsible. The bill also allows a state agency to request development of a plan to the Director of Personnel Services. The bill limits that no more than 5 percent of state employees (approximately 1,990) could be involved in pilot projects of the same purpose and subject matter at any one time. More than 5 percent of the workforce could be involved in pilot projects at any one time if the pilot projects had different purposes and subject matter. In addition, the pilot projects could not exceed three years in duration.
The Division of Personnel Services would be responsible for project design, implementation, and evaluation. Each project would have a program plan that details the project's purpose, duration, potential impact, evaluation methodology, expected performance outcomes, fiscal implications, target groups, and how state employees will be involved in the development and evaluation of the pilot project. The pilot projects would be authorized to operate under conditions not currently allowed under the Kansas Civil Service Act or any statute directly related to the administration of the Kansas Civil Service Act or under existing personnel rules and regulations. However, in no case could the statutes or rules or regulations related to discrimination in personnel administration actions, or appeal of a suspension, demotion, or dismissal to the Kansas Civil Service Board be suspended by any pilot project. A specific delineation of the laws or regulations that would be suspended would be included with the program plan. The bill provides, that no pilot project regarding performance based pay could be authorized.
The Director of Personnel Services would submit the pilot project plans to the Secretary of Administration. The Secretary of Administration could then approve, modify, or reject the pilot project plan. Once the Secretary of Administration approves or modifies a project plan, the plan then must be submitted to the Governor. The Governor may authorize the implementation of a pilot project plan by issuing an executive directive. The executive directive could place additional limitations or conditions on the pilot project as determined by the Governor.
Background
The Division of Personnel Services, Department of Administration, testified in favor of the bill. A representative of the Kansas Association of Public Employees testified in opposition to the bill.
The fiscal note indicates that granting authority to undertake pilot projects does not itself require additional costs, staff, or funding for the Department of Administration or other state agencies. However, any individual pilot project plans would identify any costs at the time they were undertaken, so the Secretary of Administration or the Governor could have fiscal impact information prior to approval of a project.
1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html