EXECUTIVE ORDER 2023-011
Order Extending Executive Order 2023-010 Which Removed Certain Hiring Criteria Regarding Minimum Qualifications, The Usage of Certain Selective Criterion in Hiring, and Employee Classification-Related Minimum Qualifications for Auto-Progression
WHEREAS, the various agencies of the State of Nevada play a vital role in providing services to its citizens and businesses; and
WHEREAS, on September 18, 2023, Executive Order 2023-010 (“EO 2023-010”) “Order Temporarily Removing Certain Hiring Criteria Regarding Minimum Qualifications, The Usage of Certain Selective Criterion in Hiring, and Employee Classification-Related Minimum Qualifications for Auto-Progression” was issued; and
WHEREAS, EO 2023-010 was issued because: 1) the various agencies of the State of Nevada play a critical role in providing services to both business and employees; 2) the State previously faced a 24.33% vacancy rate in legislatively approved positions; 3) the State has committed itself to providing competitive wages and benefit plans for its employees, evidenced by the Legislature approving and the Governor signing 12% and 11% annual cost-of-living increases over the next biennium; and 4) Executive Order 2023-002 required the Department of Administration (the “Department”) to address recruitment and retention issues identified through an examination of the State’s Human Resources System; and
WHEREAS, EO 2023-010 required, for a period of 90 days, that the Department: 1) “suspend minimum qualifications for candidates for employment for all job classifications graded at a level 29 and below”; 2) “suspend the minimum qualifications associated with auto-progressions within job classification series’ graded at a level 29 and below, deferring to the Appointing Authority’s determination that an employee meets the criteria established for auto-progression”; and 3) “discontinue the use of selective criterion for candidate evaluation for eligibility for hiring”; and
WHEREAS, EO-2023-010 has been successful in attracting and efficiently employing competitive applicants for roles in State government; and
WHEREAS, Article 5, Section 1 of the Nevada Constitution provides: “The supreme executive power of this State, shall be vested in a Chief Magistrate who shall be Governor of the State of Nevada.”
NOW, THEREFORE by the authority vested in me as Governor by the Constitution and laws of the State of Nevada and the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:
SECTION 1:
Effective immediately, all the provisions contained in EO 2023-010 are extended and will remain in full effect until June 30, 2024.
SECTION 2:
The Department shall continue the suspension of minimum qualifications for candidates for employment for all job classifications graded at a level 29 and below until June 30, 2024. A review of hiring performance will be conducted to determine whether a further period of minimum qualification suspension would be beneficial to the recruitment and retention efforts at the State of Nevada.
SECTION 3:
The Department shall continue the suspension of the minimum qualifications associated with auto-progressions within job classification series’ graded at a level 29 and below, deferring to the Appointing Authority’s determination that an employee meets the criteria established for auto-progression, until June 30, 2024. A review of retention performance will be conducted to determine whether a further period of suspension of minimum qualifications for auto-progression within job classification series would be beneficial to the retention efforts at the State of Nevada.
SECTION 4:
All recruitments for Statewide employment will maintain the discontinuance of the use of selective criterion for candidate evaluation for eligibility for hiring until June 30, 2024. A review of hiring performance will be conducted to determine whether a further period of selective criterion suspension would be beneficial to the recruitment and retention efforts at the State of Nevada.
This order is effective upon signature and shall remain in force, unless amended, modified, terminated, or rescinded by the Governor.