State Senate plans to vote on civil service changes this month

MADISON — Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he expects his chamber will vote on a bill overhauling the state's civil service system later this month.

Fitzgerald said he expects the Senate will take up the bill on Jan. 19. Approval would send the bill on to Gov. Scott Walker for his signature. The Assembly passed the bill in October and Walker supports the proposal.

The bill would eliminate exams for applicants, bumping rights that protect more experienced workers from losing their jobs, create merit raises, extend probation periods from six months to a year and define just cause for firings.

Minority Democrats have complained the measure will open the door to cronyism in state agencies.