Seven-hour hearing set for October 6th on bill that overhauls state's 110-year-old civil service system

MADISON — A public hearing has been scheduled on a Republican bill that overhauls the state's 110-year-old civil service system affecting about 30,000 state employees.

The Senate Labor and Government Reform Committee scheduled a 7-hour hearing for Oct. 6 on the measure that was circulated for co-sponsors on Monday.

The bill would do away with the civil service exam, speed up the hiring process, define "just cause" for disciplining employees and eliminate "bumping" rights that protect more experienced workers from losing their jobs.

Democrats and unions representing state workers have spoken out against the measure, saying it will make it easier to hire political cronies. Republicans say the changes will modernize the system and make it easier to hire more quickly to replace an aging workforce.

READ IT: Statement from Sen. Roger Roth (R-Appleton) and Rep. Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) on their civil service reform plan