The Classification Plan

PURPOSE: The Personnel Division and the Personnel Advisory Board have the authority and responsibility for preparation, adoption, maintenance and revision of a classification plan for all positions in the classified and covered services. This rule provides the framework within which this authority is exercised. (1) The classification plan shall be maintained as follows: (A) Revisions of Plan. The classification plan shall be so developed and maintained that all positions substantially similar with respect to the kind, difficulty, and responsibility of work are included in the same class and that the same schedule of pay may be applied with equity to all positions in a class (see section 36.110, RSMo); (B) Reallocation of Positions Within the Established Plan. The director may investigate the duties of any position in the classified and covered service subject to the law to determine the correctness of allocation and to provide for maintenance of the classification plan. Before making any permanent and substantial change in the duties, authority, or responsibilities of a position subject to the law, an appointing authority shall notify the director in writing of his/her intention to do so, together with a statement of the duties, authorities, and responsibilities to be assigned. If the duties of his/her position are changed, or if at any time an employee does not believe that the duties of the position are appropriate to his/her classification, s/he may make a request in writing to the director for a review of the duties of his/her position, setting forth reasons for the review. If those reasons appear to be substantial, the director shall make an investigation of the position with a view to determining the correctness or incorrectness of the allocation (see section 36.120, RSMo). If a position is found to be incorrectly allocated, the director, at any time, may reallocate the position to its appropriate class in the classification plan. When the allocation of a position is changed, the director shall notify the appointing authority. The appropriate personnel action shall be taken by the appointing authority upon receipt of the notice of reallocation. If the position is filled at the time of reallocation, the appointing authority immediately shall notify the incumbent regarding the allocation change. If the incumbent does not agree with the new allocation, s/he may submit to the director in writing a request for a review of the allocation of the position specifying the reasons why the incumbent believes the allocation is incorrect. An employee who is occupying a position which is reallocated to a different class shall continue in this position only if s/he meets the minimum qualifications for the class to which his/her position was reallocated. (2) Class specifications and class titles shall be provided and used in the classification plan as follows: (A) Content of Specifications. The director shall provide and may amend as provided in subsection (1)(A) written specifications for each class in the classification plan. Each of the class specifications shall include a class title, a description of the duties, authority, and responsibilities of the work, the knowledge, skills, and abilities, and a statement of the qualifications that are necessary or desirable for the satisfactory performance of the duties of the class; (B) Interpretation of Class Specifications. The statement in the class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive. They are intended to indicate the kinds of positions that are allocated to the established classes as determined by their duties and responsibilities and are not to be construed as declaring what the duties or responsibilities of any position may be or as limiting or modifying the power of an appointing authority to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration as to the duties shall not be held to exclude others not mentioned that are of a similar kind or quality nor shall any specific omission necessarily mean that a factor is not included; and (C) Use in Allocation. In determining the class to which any position should be allocated, the director shall consider the specification describing each class as a whole. Consideration shall be given to the general duties, specific tasks, responsibilities, the necessary or desirable knowledge, skills and abilities, the qualifications required, and relationships to other classes. AUTHORITY: section 36.070, RSMo Supp. 2018.* Original rule filed July 9, 1947, effective July 19, 1947. Amended: Filed Dec. 23, 1947, effective Jan. 2, 1948. Amended: Filed June 1, 1954, effective June 11, 1954. Amended: Filed July 21, 1967, effective July 31, 1967. Amended: Filed Dec. 8, 1975, effective Dec. 19, 1975. Emergency amendment filed Sept. 13, 1979, effective Sept. 28, 1979, expired Jan. 25, 1980. Amended: Filed Oct. 12, 1979, effective Jan. 15, 1980. Amended: Filed Feb. 25, 1992, effective Aug. 6, 1992. Emergency amendment filed Aug. 17, 2018, effective Aug. 28, 2018, expired Feb. 28, 2019. Amended: Filed Aug. 31, 2018, effective Feb. 28, 2019. *Original authority: 36.070, RSMo 1945, amended 1979, 1995, 2018.