This Regulation governs the establishment, maintenance, and administration of the Classification Plan applicable to all positions in the classified service.

Return to Top

9-702.01 STATEMENTS OF POLICY

1. The Budget and Control Board designates the State Human Resources Director to administer all Budget and Control Board policies and procedures relating to the Classification Plan. (S.C. Code Ann. § 8-11-230)
   

2. The Office of Human Resources (OHR) shall establish the Classification Plan to consist of (1) all approved classes of positions, (2) the allocation of each position to its proper class, (3) the class specifications for all approved classes of positions, and (4) the Regulations and procedures governing the administration of the Classification Plan. (S.C. Code Ann. § 8-11-230)
   

3. A class shall be established for each broad category of work and its level of difficulty and responsibility.
   

4. Each class shall be defined by a class specification and shall be assigned to an appropriate pay band.
   
5. The Office of Human Resources will maintain a list of approved classes.
   

6. No action shall be taken to fill any position until it has been authorized by the General Assembly and established in accordance with the Classification Plan. When establishing a classified position, OHR assigns a position number, class title, class code, slot number, and pay band.
   

7. A position may move between the classified and unclassified systems provided the agency does not exceed its respective number of classified and unclassified authorized full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. (Refer to Section 19-704.08.)
   
8. The Office of Human Resources is authorized to delegate to agencies by written agreement classification programs that are described in this Regulation. Agencies with a delegation agreement shall comply with all State and federal laws and regulations, Budget and Control Board policies and guidelines, and the provisions contained in the delegation agreement. The delegation agreement shall constitute a contractual relationship between OHR and the requesting agency and may be terminated or altered at the discretion of OHR. (S.C. Code Ann. § 8-11-230 (8) and § 8-11-230 (11))
   
9. The State Human Resources Director shall have the authority to make exceptions to these Regulations.
   

Return to Top

19-702.02 ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

1. The State Human Resources Director shall administer the Classification Plan. (S.C. Code Ann. § 8-11-230)
   

2. Before an agency fills or alters a position, OHR must approve the following actions:
   

   1. The initial classification of the position;
      

   2. The reclassification of the position; or
      

   3. The creation of new classes and the revision or abolishment of existing classes.
      

3. The Office of Human Resources shall coordinate periodic studies to ensure that the Classification Plan is current and uniform.
   

4. As requested, agencies must submit to OHR all current position descriptions, organizational charts, and other information as needed to administer the classification plan. (S.C. Code Ann. § 1-1-970)

Return to Top

19-702.03 CLASS SPECIFICATIONS

1. Each class specification shall describe in general terms examples of the kind of work and level of responsibility normally assigned positions that may be allocated to the class. The exact duties and responsibilities of positions allocated to any one class may differ; however, all positions allocated to a class shall be sufficiently similar as to kind of work, level of difficulty or responsibility, and qualification requirements.
   

2. The Office of Human Resources shall develop class specifications which include the following:

1. Class Title and Code
   

2. General Nature of Work - the brief statement summarizing the work to be performed by individuals in this class.
   

3. Guidelines for Class Use/Distinguishing Characteristics - the brief statement summarizing the level of work performed, the breadth of job responsibilities, and level of supervision given or received. This section may be omitted if it is not needed for further clarification.
   

4. Examples of Work - statements of duties that reflect responsibility common to positions in the class, but not necessarily fully descriptive of any one position in the class.
   

5. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - a list of individual characteristics each of which is required for the successful performance of one or more job duties of the class, but not necessarily fully descriptive of the requirements for any one position in the class.
   

6. Necessary Special Requirements - statements of professional or physical requirements, such as licensure or certification, which may be mandatory for some or all positions in the class. This section may be omitted if it is not needed for further clarification.
   

7. Minimum Requirements - a statement of the minimum combination of education and experience required for the satisfactory performance of the duties of positions in the class, but not necessarily fully descriptive of the education and experience required for any one position in the class. For an equivalency to substitute for the minimum requirements, an agency must submit a written request to the State Human Resources Director for approval.

3. Current class specifications shall be maintained by OHR. The Office of Human Resources will notify agencies of any revisions and additions to the class specifications.

   Return to Top

   ---

19-702.04 POSITION DESCRIPTIONS

1. The Office of Human Resources shall develop a position description form to be used by agencies in describing assigned duties and other information necessary to determine the proper classification of each position. An agency may develop a position description form which must be approved by OHR prior to implementation.
   

2. The position description shall serve as a record of the duties assigned to an individual position in a class. The position description is used to compare positions to ensure uniformity of classification and as a basis for other human resources decisions.
   

3. The position description shall include an accurate description of assigned duties and responsibilities and other pertinent information concerning a position. In contrast to general definitions of the level of work and responsibilities, the position description shall include specific duties and responsibilities assigned to a position, the percentage of time normally devoted to each duty, and the designation of essential and marginal functions.
   

4. Position descriptions should be updated to reflect any changes in the assigned job duties and responsibilities or any other pertinent information concerning the position. The supervisor should discuss this updated position description with the employee.
   
5. Agencies shall submit current position descriptions to OHR. Current position descriptions shall be maintained by both the agency and OHR.

Return to Top

19-702.05 RECLASSIFICATION OF POSITIONS

1. An established position may be reclassified from one class to a different class as a result of a natural or an organizational change in the duties or responsibilities of the position.
   

2. When reclassifying a filled position, the assignment of new duties or responsibilities should not have the effect of creating a new position.
   

3. The Office of Human Resources shall approve all reclassifications.

Return to Top

19-702.06 POSITION NUMBERING SYSTEM

The Office of Human Resources shall develop and maintain a position numbering system that will identify each established position.

Return to Top