Opinion ID: 2219084
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Merit System

Text: The Iowa Department of Personnel is the central agency responsible for state personnel management. See Iowa Code § 19A.1(2)( c ). The IDOP administrative rules apply to employees who are included under the merit system. The `merit system' means those positions or employees in the state personnel system determined by the director to be covered by the provisions of Iowa Code chapter 19A as it pertains to qualifications, examinations, probation, and just cause discipline and discharge hearings. Iowa Admin. Code r. 5811.1 (1997). The purpose of chapter 19A is to establish for the state of Iowa a system of personnel administration based on merit principles and scientific methods to govern the appointment, promotion, welfare, transfer, layoff, removal, and discipline of its civil employees, and other incidents of state employment. Iowa Code § 19A.2A. The Iowa Department of Economic Development, Hough's previous employer, is an executive agency responsible for enhanc[ing] the economic development of the state and provid[ing] for job creation and increased prosperity and opportunities for the citizens of the state through direct financial and technical assistance and training. Id. § 15.101. The department also coordinates development programs on the local, state, and federal levels. Id. Iowa Code chapter 19A and the IDOP's administrative rules apply to all employees of the state except to those classes of employees explicitly exempted in the statute or otherwise specifically exempted by law. See id. § 19A.3. The significance of an exempt position is critical to this appeal. An employee who is classified as merit exempt is neither entitled to the protections of Iowa Code chapter 19A nor the IDOP administrative rules. Iowa Code section 15.106(2) specifically says  professional staff of the department are exempt from the merit system provisions of chapter 19A. Id. § 15.106(2) (emphasis added). If we were to find Hough was a merit system employee, he would be entitled to the contested case hearing he seeks on the issue of his termination. The State argues Hough was professional staff and therefore merit-exempt.