TITLE 67

STATE GOVERNMENT AND STATE AFFAIRS

CHAPTER 53

PERSONNEL SYSTEM

67-5316.  Appeal procedure. (1) Appeals shall be limited to the following:

(a)  Any classified employee who has successfully completed the entrance probationary period may, after completing the departmental due process procedure, appeal a disciplinary dismissal, demotion or suspension.

(b)  Any classified employee may, after completing the departmental problem solving procedure, appeal the failure of an appointing authority to provide a right and/or benefit to which the employee is entitled by law.

(c)  Any interested person may appeal any decision or action taken by the administrator of the division of human resources or the staff of the division of human resources in the performance of their official duties.

(d)  Any interested person may appeal any other matters as may now or later be assigned to the personnel commission by law.

(2)  The decision or action of the appointing authority shall be final and conclusive unless a classified employee files an appeal within thirty-five (35) days after completing the departmental problem solving or due process procedure concerning the actions referred to in subsection (1)(a), (b), (c) and (d) of this section. A decision of the administrator shall be final and conclusive as to any other interested person unless an appeal is filed within thirty-five (35) days of written notice of that decision.

(3)  The commission shall assign the matter for hearing to a duly appointed hearing officer, who may be a member of the commission.

(4)  Where the action in dispute was the discharge, demotion, or suspension, upon determination that proper cause did not in fact exist within the definitions set forth in section 67-5309(m), Idaho Code, or that the action was taken by reason of illegal discrimination, the commission or the hearing officer shall order the reinstatement of the employee in the same position or a position of like status and pay, with or without loss of pay for the period of discharge, demotion, or suspension, or may order such other remedy as may be determined to be appropriate. In all other disputed matters, the commission and the hearing officer may order such action as may be appropriate.

(5)  Process and procedure under this act shall be as summary and simple as reasonably may be. The hearing officer appointed by the commission shall have the power to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and examine such of the books and records of the parties to a proceeding as relate to the questions in dispute. A verbatim record of the proceedings at hearings before the commission or a hearing officer shall be maintained either by electrical devices or by stenographic means, as the commission or hearing officer may direct, but if any party to the action requests a stenographic record of the proceedings, the record shall be done stenographically. The requesting party shall pay the costs of transcribing the proceedings.

The district court, in and for the county in which any proceedings before the Idaho personnel commission are held, shall have the power to enforce by proper proceedings the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and production and examination of books, papers, and records.

(6)  If the parties reach an agreement in regard to the matters of dispute, a memorandum of the agreement shall be filed with the commission and, if approved by it, the memorandum shall be enforceable for all purposes.

(7)  The hearing officer shall give written notice of the time and place of hearing, either by personal service or by mail. Service by mail shall be deemed complete when a copy of such notice is deposited in the United States post office, with postage prepaid, addressed to a party’s last known address, as shown in the records and files of the commission. An affidavit of personal service shall be filed by the person making the same.

(8)  The hearing officer to whom the matter has been assigned shall make such inquiry and investigations as shall be deemed necessary. The hearings shall be held in such place as the hearing officer may designate. The decision of the hearing officer, consisting of such findings of fact, conclusions of law and orders as are necessary, together with the record of the proceedings, shall be filed in the office of the Idaho personnel commission. A copy of the hearing officer’s decision shall be immediately sent to the parties by United States mail. The decision of the hearing officer shall be final and conclusive between the parties, unless a petition for review is filed with the commission within thirty-five (35) days. The petition for review shall specifically cite the alleged errors of fact or law made by the hearing officer.

(9)  Any party in interest may file in the district court for the county in which any party to the proceedings resides, a certified copy of the final decision of the hearing officer, which the district court shall have the power to enforce by proper proceedings.

(10) Where the decision and order of the hearing officer directed the reinstatement of an employee, the employee shall be reinstated upon receipt of a copy of the decision unless a petition for review is filed.

History:

[67-5316, added 1969, ch. 171, sec. 3, p. 510; am. 1977, ch. 307, sec. 5, p. 863; am. 1979, ch. 192, sec. 2, p. 557; am. 1986, ch. 134, sec. 4, p. 358; am. 1997, ch. 364, sec. 2, p. 1075; am. 1999, ch. 243, sec. 2, p. 620; am. 1999, ch. 370, sec. 14, p. 993; am. 2018, ch. 118, sec. 2, p. 253.]