State steps up preparations for new system

March 3, 2005

As Spring 2005 approaches, state agencies are stepping up preparations for enactment of the Personnel System Reform Act in July. At the center of all the activity, the Department of Personnel (DOP) is offering a variety of training and consultation services designed to help agencies in the transition to the new civil service system.

Since the new computer system (HRMS) will be delayed, DOP will use the existing personnel/payroll computer system (PAY1) to implement personnel reform on schedule and continue processing the state payroll for the short term. This is a temporary measure that will require some manual procedures to support the new rules and contracts until the HRMS is in place.

A comprehensive new plan to bring the HRMS on line is being finalized and new implementation dates will be available soon. The top priority for the new plan is to deliver a quality system that meets the state’s requirements, works with existing systems and helps the state better manage its human resources. Significant progress towards achieving this goal has already been made and the project is focused on resolving the remaining issues as soon as possible.

Personnel reform is fundamentally about creating an environment that supports more efficient management of the state’s human resources. The new computer system is one of many tools that will help us get there. Other tools, such as the new bargaining agreements, rules, and the first phase of the classification plan, are already in place and ready to go for July 1, 2005.