Governor signs civil service legislation

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed three hard-fought civil service bills into law at a New York City Central Labor Council Labor Day event on Sept. 5. “Removing unnecessary barriers to the civil service exam is common sense if we want to recruit New York’s best and brightest to these vital roles,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person of the bills the statewide union supported on behalf of its School-Related Professional members. “We are proud of the NYSUT members who made their voices heard to get these bills passed in Albany.”

The new laws will:

• Allow individuals to take civil service exams 12 months prior to reaching the minimum age for the exam position. S8216-a (Jackson) / A8876 (Pheffer Amato)
• Require that civil service exams be reviewed and updated at least every five years. S8551 (Jackson) / A9349 (Pheffer Amato)
• Credit time spent as a provisional appointee toward requirements for promotional examinations and permanent appointment from an eligible list. S8557 (Jackson) / A9386 (Pheffer Amato)