A bill that would allow state colleges and universities to withdraw their employees from the state personnel system and create a new personnel system will be introduced this legislative session, the legislature's Interim Committee on State Government Expenditures decided last week.

The bill would let current employees choose to stay within the state system or join the alternative system. Current employees also could remain in the state's Public Employees' Retirement Association or join an alternative retirement plan.

The bill, which is based on the recommendations of the Governor's Commission on Civil Service Reform, will be sponsored in the House by Majority Leader Keith King, R-Colorado Springs. Sen. Norma Anderson, R-Lakewood, will sponsor it in the Senate.

Vonda Knox, president of Metro's Classified Staff Council, expressed reservations with the proposed legislation. "There are many uncertainties," she said. "The main concern is what we'd be opting in to. It's very unclear. We're not getting information on what the new system would be."

Knox also questions the cost of such an action. "Where is the merit and cost efficiency in duplicating a personnel system already in place?"

Interim President Ray Kieft, emphasizing that legislation has not yet been introduced, indicated that the college intends to be prepared.

"Should legislation be passed this legislative session, Metro needs to be ready with an alternative personnel system," Kieft said. He explained that an alternative system would be developed by a task force that includes representatives from the Classified Staff Council. The task force would make recommendations to the college administration, and the president would then submit it to the Board of Trustees for approval. "Then, and only then, would the college be prepared to respond to any legislation," Kieft said.

The task force will be chaired by interim Director of Human Resources Tamy Callahan. Three classified staff will be members along with one faculty member with expertise in human resources and one administrator with an interest in human resources. The task force will be charged with developing and recommending an alternative personnel system that incorporates the following principles:

1. Representatives of the Classified Staff Council must be involved in the design and development of the alternative personnel system.
2. Due process in employee discipline must be ensured.
3. The rights of current classified staff must be guaranteed if they do not wish to leave the current system and join the alternative system.
4. The right of current classified staff members to continue participating in PERA must not be compromised or disturbed should they elect to join the alternative system.

Kieft will appoint members to the task force based on recommendations from Knox and president of the Council of Administrators Kim Clark. If you're interested in serving on this task force, please contact Knox or Clark.