Texas Civil Service Testing

US Army 52864 Blue ink on the inspection sheet indicates to the students that they are a "go" during the sling load hands-on testing in the Camp Robertson Training Area Oct. 8

also see public administration on a merit system.

Purpose of Testing:
Civil service testing ensures efficient and proficient fire and police department workers. These individuals are uninhibited from political influence and have permanent employment as public sector servants.

The Civil Service Test:
In order to be considered as a civil service department:

• A city must have a population of 10,000 or more.
• Have both a paid and funded police and fire department
• Voted to adopt Texas Chapter 143.
• If the city has not voted to adopt Texas Chapter 143, they must change current law to codify Chapter 143 or subsequent election to validate the law enacted by house bill 822, Acts of the 73rd legislature, regular session, 1993.
• Population of municipality must be determined by the most recent federal decennial census and or annual population estimate in which provided by Texas demographer under Chapter 468.
• If the current estimate is more updated than the most recent federal decennial census. If Chapter 143 suggests municipality has stipulated by subsection the application will not be affected by the municipality’s population changes and no longer meets any population requirement of subsection.

Employees Affected:
The exam acts as a prerequisite to both fire and police sector positions as a way of ensuring an unbiased way of selecting the best possible candidate for the posted positions. Civil service examination consist of basic and or advance arithmetic, money handling, word problems, and interpretation of graphs and statistics and focuses a abundant deal language skills. After the exam is administered a list is compiled of all candidates starting from highest score, from their the top candidates are selected to move on in the hiring process.

Current Issues:
In 2013, City of Austin fire department underwent an investigation from the US department of justice in regards of alleged discrimination against minorities and their hiring process. The Fire Department has been “engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against Hispanics and African Americans with respect to employment opportunities in sworn positions.”

In 2009, The Austin Fire Department fired down in its ranks to promote 2 untested lieutenants to newly created Assistant Chief positions, passing over a significant number of more experienced Captains, Battalion Chiefs, and Division Chiefs. The firm representing 2 long time AFD officers and the emergency responders for equality (an organization founded by concerned AFD fire fighters) to challenge AFD’s use of race in deciding whom to appoint to the new assistant chief position. Following mediation, the parties reached an amicable settlement awarding plaintiffs $850 thousand in damages and attorney fees. In addition to injunctive relieve.

In November 2011, the Austin Fire Department spent close to $1 million dollars to hire 80 new employees in responses to the 

discriminating allegations. The civil service test is intended to reduce the process of the Spoil System, but a promotion
hinders on other aspects than that of a test score. There are allegations that subclasses of applications are at a
disadvantage when it comes to the test.

See also: Civil service commission, competitive examination, Public utilities commission, and Spoils system