ORS 240.306: Recruitment, selection and promotion of state employees; criteria; procedures; duties of department.

(1) Recruiting, selecting and promoting employees shall be on the basis of their relative ability, knowledge, experience and skills, determined by open competition and consideration of qualified applicants, without regard to an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, age, disability, political affiliation or other nonjob related factors, with proper regard for an individual’s privacy. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to enlarge or diminish the obligation of the state or the rights of employees concerning claims of employment discrimination as prescribed by applicable state and federal employment discrimination laws. (2) The Oregon Department of Administrative Services shall establish procedures to provide for statewide open recruitment and selection for classifications that are common to state agencies. The procedures shall include adequate public notice, affirmative action to seek out underutilized members of protected minorities, and job related testing. The department may delegate to individual operating agencies the responsibility for recruitment and selection of classifications where appropriate. (3) Competition for appropriate positions may be limited to facilitate employment of those with a substantial disability or who are economically disadvantaged, or for purposes of implementing a specified affirmative action program. (4) Appointments to positions in state service shall be made on the basis of qualifications and merit by selection from eligible lists established by the department or a delegated operating agency. (5)(a) Noncompetitive selection and appointment procedures may be used for unskilled or semiskilled positions, or where job related ranking measures are not practical or appropriate. (b) Noncompetitive selection and appointment or direct appointment also may be used by agency appointing authorities to fill positions that: (A) Require special or unique skills such as expert professional level or executive positions; or (B) Have critical timing requirements affecting recruitment. (6) Minimum qualifications and performance requirements and duties of a classification may be appropriately modified to permit the appointment and promotion of trainees to positions normally filled at full proficiency level. (7) The department or delegated agencies shall establish systems to provide opportunities for promotion through meritorious service, training, education and career development assignments. The department shall certify to the eligibility of persons selected for promotion or delegate that responsibility to operating agencies in appropriate situations. Provision shall be made to bring persons into state service through open competition at higher levels when the competition provides abilities not available among existing employees, enrich state service or contribute to improved employment opportunity for underrepresented groups. [1979 c.468 §20; 1985 c.635 §1; 1989 c.224 §28; 1997 c.51 §1; 2007 c.100 §22; 2021 c.367 §13]