State Civil Service Commission

Mission & Vision

Established in 1941, the State Civil Service Commission (Commission) is a nonpartisan three-member independent administrative state agency. Members of the Commission are nominated by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and confirmed with the advice and consent of the Pennsylvania State Senate to six-year terms. Of the members, one is designated as Chairperson by the Governor, and one is a statutorily required veteran member.

• MISSION: Serve as an objective and neutral adjudicatory tribunal authorized to hear and resolve disputed employment appeals filed by job seekers and civil service employees at the state, applicably covered Pennsylvania county agencies, Pennsylvania housing authorities, and other contracted entities.
  
  
• VISION: Lead and ensure the provisions of Act 71 of 2018 (Civil Service Reform); applicable provisions of the Military Affairs Code, Title 51 Pa.C.S., Part V (relating to employment preferences and pensions); and civil service employment rules, regulations, policies, and procedures are equitably and fairly applied to job seekers and civil service employees.

The purpose of Act 71 of 2018 (Civil Service Reform) is to “create and sustain a modern merit system of employment within the Commonwealth workforce that promotes the hiring, retention and promotion of highly qualified individuals, ensuring that government services are efficiently and effectively delivered to the public.” (Title 71, Chapter 21, §2102. Purpose).

Know Your Civil Service Appeal Rights

As a job seeker or civil service employee for state and applicable covered local government/housing authority job opportunities, you have the right to appeal adverse action(s) to the Commission.  Appeals must be filed not more than twenty (20) calendar days after you receive notice or become aware of the challenged action(s).  If a hearing is granted, the parties must present relevant evidence to include documents and witness testimony.  After the evidence is presented and the record is closed, the Commission will review the full record and issue a decision, which is called an adjudication.  Copies of the adjudication are provided to the parties and posted on the Commission's website.  Please note the Commission does not independently conduct separate investigations into allegations raised in an appeal.

For more detailed information about your rights and the civil service appeals process, please click here.

For information about the Commission, please search below.