Jasmine Govani, CSC Docket No. 2020-10

BackgroundJasmine Govani appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services (Agency Services) that she did not meet the experience requirements for the promotional examination for Quality Assurance Specialist, Health Services (PS8866H), Ann Klein Forensic Center.

The subject examination had a closing date of December 21, 2018. The license requirement for the subject announcement was that applicants must be a Registered Professional Nurse currently licensed in New Jersey. The experience requirements were four years of experience as a Registered Nurse, one year of which is specialized experience including the monitoring and/or evaluation of clinical or human services records and programs in a mental health, geriatric, health care setting or human service agency. A total of six employees applied for the subject examination which resulted in a list of four eligibles with an expiration date of June 26, 2022. Certification PS190924 was issued containing the names of the four eligibles. Its disposition is due to be returned by October 19, 2019. There are currently three employees serving provisionally in the subject title, including the appellant.

Agency Services credited the appellant with having met the license requirement. Additionally, it credited her with having met the general experience requirement based on her experience in various nursing positions from February 2012 to the December 21, 2018 closing date and having four months of the specialized experience based on her provisional service in the subject title from

September 2018 to the closing date. However, it determined that she lacked eight months of the specialized experience. On appeal, the appellant explains her experience in more detail and submits letters from her superiors who support her appeal.

CONCLUSION

RuleN.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.6(a) provides that applicants shall meet all requirements specified in the promotional announcement by the closing date. Further, N.J.A.C. 4A:1-1.2(c) states that the Civil Service Commission (Commission) may relax a rule for good cause in order to effectuate the purposes of Title 11A, New Jersey Statutes.

AnalysisPersonnel records indicate that the appellant continues to provisionally serve in the subject title and has gained the required experience after the closing date. Moreover, as indicated previously, there are currently three employees provisionally serving in the subject title. Consequently, it is anticipated that the appointing authority shall make three permanent appointments. Assuming it does so, the list shall then be incomplete. Therefore, the Commission finds good cause under N.J.A.C. 4A:1-1.2(c) to relax the provisions of N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.6(a) and accept the appellant’s experience gained after the closing date, for eligibility purposes only, and admit the appellant to the subject examination.

ORDER

Therefore, it is ordered that the appeal be granted, and Jasmine Govani’s application be processed for prospective employment opportunities only.

ClosingThis is the final administrative determination in this matter. Any further review should be pursued in a judicial forum.