§ 36-4-18. Competitive tests.
The competitive tests shall be designed to determine fairly the capacity of the persons
examined to perform the duties of the positions in the classes for which the lists
are prepared. The competitive tests shall be open to applicants who are residents
of the state of Rhode Island; provided, that the personnel administrator may admit
to competitive tests for technical, professional, or unusual positions residents of
other states. Any resident denied admission to an examination on the grounds of insufficient
qualifications as established in the class specifications involved may, within five
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§ 36-4-18. Competitive tests.
The competitive tests shall be designed to determine fairly the capacity of the persons
examined to perform the duties of the positions in the classes for which the lists
are prepared. The competitive tests shall be open to applicants who are residents
of the state of Rhode Island; provided, that the personnel administrator may admit
to competitive tests for technical, professional, or unusual positions residents of
other states. Any resident denied admission to an examination on the grounds of insufficient
qualifications as established in the class specifications involved may, within five
(5) calendar days of the mailing of the notices, appeal in writing to the administrator
of adjudication for a hearing or review of the denial. On the basis of the review
or hearing, the administrator of adjudication may direct the personnel administrator
to permit the appellant to take the examination. The tests may take into consideration
elements of character, education, aptitude, experience, knowledge, skill, personality,
physical fitness, professional license, or specialized training, and other pertinent
matters, and may be written, oral, physical, or in the form of demonstration of skill,
or any combination of these types. Public notice of every test shall be given in the
manner prescribed by the personnel rules. Persons having a legitimate and proper interest
in examination questions used in connection with any examination shall be freely allowed
to inspect the questions, when all phases of the examination in which the questions
were used have been completed under such conditions as shall be specified in the personnel
rules. The final earned rating of each person competing in any test shall be determined
by the weighted average of the earned rating on all phases of the test according to
weights for each phase established by the personnel administrator in advance of the
giving of the tests and published as part of the announcement of the examination.
However, the personnel administrator may discontinue the examination process for any
competitor when it has been determined that the required minimum final earned rating
cannot be attained. All persons competing in any test shall be given written notice
of their standing on any employment list or of their failure to attain a place upon
the list. The personnel administrator may as deemed appropriate establish broadband
examinations for a wide variety of entry and/or other levels of positions which would
not be ranked in the traditional manner. The examinations would be ranked only upon
certification to an appropriate vacancy and subject to conditions established in the
personnel rules and the provisions of §§ 36-4-4 and 36-4-7 shall not apply to any appointments which are in the unclassified service. When an
appropriate vacancy exists, the appointing authority will certify as to the appropriate
knowledge, skills, and abilities required for successful performance in a particular
position or positions. The personnel administrator will then proceed to rank all eligibles
who have qualified and possess the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities.