The Career Service Review Office (CSRO) is a quasi-judicial body that administers the grievance and appeals process for the state's employees. The office reviews grievances from career services employees regarding: dismissals, demotions, suspensions, reductions in force, disputes concerning abandonment of position, wage grievances if an employee is not placed within the salary range of the employee's current position, violations of a rule adopted under Chapter 19, Utah State Personnel Management Act, and the equitable administration of certain benefits. The office also reviews grievances from a reporting employee alleging retaliator action. The office has no jurisdiction over classification grievances, which are governed by Department of Human Resource Management.
During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $268,000 from all sources for Career Service Review Office. This is a 2.3 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $268,000 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 2.3 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.
The expenditures of the Career Service Review Office (CSRO) fluctuate annually based on the number of grievances filed and the number of evidentiary and appeals hearings held. During the 2014 General Session, the CSRO base budget was altered to adjust for this fluctuation. The ongoing general fund appropriation was reduced by $33,000 (11.5%) and the Legislature increased nonlapsing authority up to $30,000.
CSRO lapsed $33,300 back to the general fund at the end of FY 2014, almost exactly the amount that was reduced from their ongoing budget for FY 2015. This indicates that the CSRO ongoing base budget is closely in line with anticipated costs. The Analyst recommends no change to the CSRO base budget and recommends intent language authorizing $30,000 appropriated for FY 2015 not lapse at the end of the fiscal year.
The Career Service Review Office has updated the grievance process to better meet statutory requirements. The updated process involves four steps instead of the previous six. This update requires new performance measures that will begin in fiscal year 2014.
Step Four Hearings On-Time
In FY 2014, the Career Service Review Office conducted 100% of evidentiary hearings on time. Only one case extended beyond 150 days and that was at the mutual request of both parties.
Written Decisions Issued On-Time
During FY 2014, the Career Service Review Office issued 100% of written decisions within the 20 working day deadline.
During the 2010 General Session, House Bill 140, Human Resource Management Amendments, was passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. One of the changes included in this bill was replacing the Career Service Review Board with the Career Service Review Office and providing that the office is the final administrative body to review certain employee grievances.
During the 2013GS, Senate Bill 95, Whistleblower Amendments, was passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. This bill added the retaliatory action against a reporting employee to the list of grievances heard by the Office. It also provided guidelines for an employee who issues a complaint under the new whistleblower protections.
The Career Service Review Office is comprised of only two FTE and receives an annual General Fund appropriation of less than $300,000 . Personnel costs comprise 80% of the CSRO budget and the majority of the remaining budget is used to pay for hearing officers.
COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.