TO: Agency Personnel Officers
FROM: Bob Parrish
SUBJECT: Review of Promotion Applications for Derogatory Information

Effective immediately, the Department of Civil Service will no longer review promotion applications (Form XD-5) for `derogatory' information.

The current promotion application (XD-5) asks promotion candidates the following question:

"Since last permanent appointment have you been convicted of any crime or do you now have a criminal charge pending against you?"

Future revisions of this form will no longer contain this question. It will be the responsibility of each agency to inquire about each candidate's background at the time of interview, using your own internal employment application form. If you do not wish to consider a candidate for appointment because of his/her background, contact the investigations Section of the Department of Civil Service with all relevant information. They will conduct a background investigation and advise you and the candidate of the results.

Currently, most restrictions and disqualifications result from agency requests to investigate candidates. Our own internal review of promotion applications has produced very few restrictions or disqualifications relative to the work load. We believe it is more productive and meaningful for agencies to contact us with concerns about candidates at the time of interview.

We will shortly be issuing a State Personnel Management Manual section on credentials, which will more completely articulate our policy with respect to candidate background and credentials generally.

Any questions you may have concerning this memorandum should be directed to the Investigations Section at 457-5507.

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