What's happening
This bill directs the state civil service commission to study and recommend improvements for diversity in civil service exam processes.
Why it matters
The bill mandates a comprehensive review of civil service exam practices to uncover and address barriers faced by underrepresented groups. including considerations for age, race, native language, gender identity, disability, and more—potentially leading to a more inclusive workforce.
By requiring the study to assess practical resources (like transportation, accessible locations/times, language translation, and preparatory support), the bill recognizes that logistical and systemic hurdles, not just the exams themselves, can limit diversity in hiring.
Recommendations generated could influence future legislation or policy changes, providing a roadmap for concrete steps to reduce inequities in public sector recruitment and potentially setting a precedent for broader civil service reforms.
A strict timeline (within 270 days) for both conducting the study and reporting findings ensures timely action, signaling urgency in addressing diversity and fairness in state hiring processes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Civil Service Exams
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to civil service and pensions
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8679
IN SENATE
May 10, 2018
Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions
AN ACT to direct the president of the state civil service commission to conduct a study on the current civil service examination process to identify and provide recommendations to improve current methodologies used regarding the examination process to ensure diversity in recruitment and hiring in the public sector
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The president of the state civil service commission is hereby directed to conduct a study on the current civil service examination process to identify existing resources and provide recommendations on how to improve current methodologies used regarding the examination process to ensure diversity in the recruitment and hiring in the public sector. Such study shall review the various needs of applicants based on age, race, creed, color, national origin, native language, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sex, disability or marital status. The study must also review available resources to ensure that each of the needs of the above applicants are sufficiently met to ensure that there are no undue barriers that could limit opportunities and prevent a diverse public sector workforce. Such resources shall include, but not be limited to, transportation, accessibility to examination location and times of examinations, technology, preparation courses on general exams, translators, tests available in applicant's native language, preparation materials or other study materials provided to applicants before examinations are scheduled, mentors or a mentorship program, or any other testing accommodations deemed necessary for a documented disability. If resources are not available, the commission shall make recommendations regarding how such resources can be provided. Such commission shall also make other recommendations regarding the examination process to ensure diversity in recruitment and hiring in the public sector.
§ 2. On or before two hundred seventy days after the effective date of this act, the president of the state civil service commission shall
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08070-03-8
S. 8679 2
complete the study pursuant to section one of this act and shall thereafter deliver a copy of the findings and any legislative recommendations he or she deems to be necessary to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to direct the president of the state civil service commission to conduct a study on the current civil service examination process to identify and provide recommendations to improve current methodologies used regarding the examination process to ensure diversity in recruit- ment and hiring in the public sector
Purpose or general idea of bill
Directs the president of the state civil service commission to conduct a study on the current civil service examination process.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. The President of the state Civil Service Commission shall conduct a study on the current civil service examination process to identify existing resources and provide recommendations on how to improve current methodologies used regarding the examination process to ensure diversity in the recruitment and hiring in the public sector.
Section 2. On or before 270 days after effective date of this act, the President of the State Civil Service Commission shall complete the study conducted pursuant to section one of this act. The results should be reported with recommendations to the Governor, the temporary President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Difference between original and amended version
N/A
Justification
This legislation intends to improve employment opportunities for quali- fied minorities in the New York State civil service system. This system oversees the employment of over 630,000 government (public) sector employees. Based on the appalling hiring of minorities documented below, it is necessary to examine other paths to employment that can help diversify the state and municipal government workforces so that they better reflect the great diversity of our State. Having the Department of Civil Service examine and report on how a portfolio application system would help improve diversity is a good start and this legislation aims to initiate that process.
A 2005 report by the New York State Assembly Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, a subsequent public hearing and other meetings with minority workers has yielded valuable suggestion that need legislative action to remedy what the 2005 report called, an appalling under-representation of minorities in civil service and policy making positions in the Pataki Administration. This is one of 7 proposals put forward by task force to address the problems.
*In 2005, Hispanics made up over 16% of the entire state population but accounted for only 3.8 percent or 6.515 of the 169.571 jobs in the state government workforce. In real terms, this is a decline in close to 1,000 jobs since 1991 or a 12.2% reduction in the number of Hispanic state workers. This reduction came during a period when the Hispanic popu- lation in New York grew by 33%.
*In 2015 Hispanics make up almost 19% of the entire state population but account for 400 less jobs than they had in State government or 6,142 jobs out of 131,800.
*Since 1991, the African-American civil service workforce has seen a dramatic decline. The more than 11,000 jobs lost by this group represent an almost 30% decline in the African-American state workforce. This reduction came during a period when the African-American population in New York grew by 16.1%.
*For African-Americans, the loss of the 11,000 jobs at the average state salary of $53,000 translates into a loss of over $550 million dollars in annual salaries. For Hispanics their under-representation translates into a loss of over $860 million in annual salaries never realized by this community.
Legislative history
2016: A.8041 - Referred to governmental employees
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.