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House approves negotiated HRM bill to shorten grievance steps and change review board
Summary
First substitute HB140, negotiated with employee groups, streamlines grievance procedures, renames the Career Service Review Board to a review office, and adjusts step‑increase flexibility; the House passed the bill 56‑14 after rejecting an amendment to restore certain retaliation/discrimination review options.
Lawmakers approved a negotiated package of human‑resources changes for state employees on March 1 when the House passed first substitute HB140.
Representative Deane, who led floor presentation for the sponsor, described the bill as the product of months of talks with employee groups including the Utah Public Employees Association. "We've been working on this bill for several months with employee groups on ways that we could streamline the basic grievance process with state employees," Deane said, and emphasized changes intended to expedite hearings, reduce duplicative proceedings, and permit flexible step increases when budgets do not allow statutory step amounts.
Key changes described on the floor include reducing grievance steps (from four to three), eliminating duplicative full‑board hearings after an evidentiary hearing before a hearing officer, and changing the Career Service Review Board (CSRB) to the Career Service Review Office (CSRO). The bill also alters which grievances are allowed and adjusts statutory language to allow step increases below the prior 2.75% fixed amount when budget constraints exist.
Representative King proposed an amendment to preserve CSRB jurisdiction over retaliation and discrimination claims; proponents of the amendment argued it would ensure employees retain a forum for retaliation claims not covered by discrimination statutes. Sponsor Deane and others said the bill was a negotiated compromise and that preserving dual tracks would duplicate proceedings; the amendment failed on a recorded vote.
After debate the House reported first substitute HB140 passed the body with 56 yes and 14 no and the bill will be forwarded to the Senate.
