Civil service: employee hearings.

The California Constitution establishes the civil service and creates the State Personnel Board to enforce the civil service statutes. Existing law authorizes the State Personnel Board to hold hearings and make investigations concerning matters relating to the administration of the civil service. These provisions require, among other things, that a hearing or investigation be commenced within a reasonable time after the filing of the petition whenever a hearing or investigation is conducted in regard to an appeal by an employee. This bill would authorize an employee to make a written request for a priority hearing by the board for an appeal of an action that resulted in the employee's termination if an evidentiary hearing has not commenced within 6 months of the filing of the appeal. The bill would require the board to schedule an evidentiary hearing within 60 days of the written request, as specified. The bill would also authorize the board to order all of, or a portion of, any hearing to be conducted using electronic media pursuant to board rules. The bill would also make nonsubstantive, technical changes to that provision.