House Bill 223 Summary

• Allows job closing dates to be set as special exceptions through the Office of State Human Resources, in addition to requiring State Human Resources Commission approval for critical classifications.

• Expands access to confidential personnel file information to allow potential state or local government supervisors to review performance management documents during interviews and to prevent application fraud.

• Permits Office of State Human Resources to contact local government board members and department heads when a proposed appointee lacks minimum qualifications, and to share relevant personnel file portions with state departmental staff to determine qualification status.

• Establishes a 180-day pilot program allowing the Department of Health and Human Services to directly hire temporary employees into permanent positions earning $80,000 or less if they have worked at least six months in a substantially equivalent role with satisfactory performance through the Temporary Solutions Program.

• Prohibits agencies with invoices over 90 days overdue exceeding $200,000 from acquiring new temporary employees until overdue invoices are paid, with director discretion for exceptions involving severe service harm.