State Senate plans to take up civil service changes Jan. 20

MADISON — The state Senate plans to take up a bill re-shaping Wisconsin's civil service system on Jan. 20.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said earlier this week that the house would take up the measure on Jan. 19. But his spokeswoman, Myranda Tanck, said Thursday that Fitzgerald meant the Senate would take up the bill the week of Jan. 19. She says Fitzgerald plans to bring the bill to the floor on Jan. 20.

The bill would eliminate exams for applicants, bumping rights that protect more experienced workers from losing their jobs, create merit raises, extend probation periods from six months to a year and define just cause for firings.