Committee strikes outdated checkbox language, conditionally approves personnel evaluation rules

The committee addressed a set of personnel rules (108) covering seniority, performance evaluations and compensation, agreeing to a conditional approval after staff and agency counsel identified and agreed to remove residual references to a non-existent checkbox or form.

Staff noted the rules had not been updated in about a decade and that removal of phrasing about "checking the appropriate box" was needed because no state checkbox or form exists. Kevin Buckley, attorney for the Department of Administrative Services, said the language was carried over inadvertently when prior edits were made and should be stricken.

Joanne Lydic of the Division of Personnel said agencies use a standard template and guide for evaluations, which has been in use for about 10 years and must be approved by the division if an agency chooses to deviate. Committee members expressed concern that agencies could reorder evaluation categories—Lydic said changes merely rearrange the presentation, not the substantive requirements, and that agencies must seek Division approval to change templates.

The chair proposed and the committee adopted a conditional approval that strikes the checkbox language on pages 6 and 7 and approves the remainder of the rule. The motion passed by voice vote.