RULE 2. COMMISSION AND DIRECTOR GENERALLY; PURPOSE, ETC., OF RULES

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 14, art. II, div. 2

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 14-33 Appointment of commission.

Sec. 14-33. - Appointment of commission. There shall be a civil service commission duly installed and authorized to operate under the provisions of section 1 of Article Va. (Ord. No. 2015-1300, § 2(Exh. A), 12-16-2015)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 14-34 Purposes of rules.

Sec. 14-34. - Purposes of rules. These rules shall be known as the civil service rules for employees of the city (other than fire fighters and police officers) and are adopted to conform with provisions of Article Va for the purpose of establishing procedures for handling those matters which are the responsibility of the civil service commission in such a way as to ensure: (1) That all appointments and promotions to, and separations from, positions in the classified service shall be made on the sole basis of merit and fitness, which, so far as is practicable, shall be ascertained by means of competitive examinations. (2) That a plan of classification and fair compensation for positions therein shall be adopted which will conform with the principle of like pay for like work. (3) That employment in the service of the city shall be made attractive as a career. (4) That each civil service employee shall be encouraged to render his best service in compliance with all of the provisions of his employment. (5) That a modern, comprehensive performance rating system shall be provided whereby economy and effectiveness in personal services may be promoted to the mutual benefit of the employees and the taxpayers. (Ord. No. 2015-1300, § 2(Exh. A), 12-16-2015)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 14-35 Application of rules.

Sec. 14-35. - Application of rules. These rules shall apply to all positions in the classified service, except those as otherwise provided for in section 2 of Article Va. (Ord. No. 2015-1300, § 2(Exh. A), 12-16-2015)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 14-36 Adoption and publication of rules.

Sec. 14-36. - Adoption and publication of rules. Civil service rules, when adopted by the commission and approved by the council, shall be effective but shall also be published publically through the use of any media most likely to reach citizens of the city, employees and applicants, including electronic media. (Ord. No. 2015-1300, § 2(Exh. A), 12-16-2015)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 14-37 General powers and duties of the commission.

Sec. 14-37. - General powers and duties of the commission. (a) In accordance with the provisions of sections 2 and 4 of Article Va, the commission shall have the power to amend, repeal or supplement these rules at any time and adopt new rules which shall become effective upon approval thereof by the council. (b) The commission shall, in cooperation with the mayor and council, develop job descriptions and qualifications and recommend to the council a compensation plan of properly related scales of pay for all classes of positions. (c) The commission shall, in cooperation with the mayor and council, develop regulations covering vacations, sick leaves, leaves without pay, injury leaves, and other leaves, which will take effect when approved by the council. (d) The commission shall develop a system of performance ratings and administer same for employees in the classified service. (e) The commission shall develop and enforce a code of rules and regulations which, being based upon merit, efficiency, production, character and conduct, will provide for: (1) Appointments and employment in all positions of the classified service; (2) Reduction in forces; (3) The order in which employees shall be laid off and reinstated; and (4) Appeals from dismissals, demotions and suspensions. (f) The commission shall direct the administration and enforcement of the civil service rules and regulations and ordinances which affect the civil service commission. Should the commission have reason to believe any officer, board, commissioner or person concerned with appointment, layoff, demotion, suspension, indefinite suspension, discharge or promotion has abused such power by executing or recommending any action in violation of the civil service rules and regulations or ordinances or Charter provisions covering civil service, it shall be the duty of the commission to make an investigation and, if violation of the provision or spirit and intent of the law or rules and regulations is found, the commission shall make a report thereof to the mayor and council and recommend appropriate action. (g) The commission shall order reinstatement without loss of pay for any employee who has been demoted, indefinitely suspended, reduced in rank or compensation, suspended or transferred for religious, racial or political reasons. (h) The commission shall order reinstatement without loss of pay for any employee in the classified service who has been demoted, indefinitely suspended, reduced in rank or compensation in any instance where, following a hearing, the commission finds as a fact that such demotion, indefinite suspension, reduction in rank or compensation was not affected in a manner consistent with these rules and regulations. (Ord. No. 2015-1300, § 2(Exh. A), 12-16-2015)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 14-38 Duties of director.

Sec. 14-38. - Duties of director. The duties of the director shall be: (1) To recommend for action by the commission rules and regulations for the proper administration and development of the merit system for employees of all departments. (2) To recommend for action by the commission rules and regulations for the establishment of a classification plan for all positions affected herein, based upon similarity of duties and responsibility. (3) To recommend for action by the commission rules and regulations for the establishment of a compensation plan for all positions affected herein, in conjunction with the directors of the departments. (4) To recommend for action by the commission rules and regulations for the establishment of open, competitive and free examinations. (5) To recommend for action by the commission reasonable provisions for preference for service of persons who: a. Have been members of the armed forces of the United States covered by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, as amended; and b. Who are able to produce evidence of an honorable discharge. (6) To recommend for action by the commission such other rules and regulations, including but not limited to matters pertaining to attendance of witnesses, filling of vacancies, promotions, demotions, probationary periods, layoffs, discharges, reductions and suspensions, and appeals from actions taken therewith; to make recommendations tending to establish and maintain harmony between the commission and the various city departments; to improve selection methods; to reduce excessive turnover of personnel in the departments; to forestall excessive increases in personnel; to make available to the various departments the best personnel practices; to develop an adequate and comprehensive system of personnel records; and, generally, to perform at the direction of the commission any other work necessary or proper for making effective the provisions of Article Va and the rules and regulations and the ordinances pertaining thereto. (7) To hold examinations, pass upon qualifications of applicants, establish lists of eligibles as needed, and to certify lists of eligibles to department directors for filling vacancies in the city's service. (8) To serve as executive head of the civil service staff, to direct and supervise all of its administrative and technical activities, and with the approval of the commission, and under the budgetary procedure of the city, to direct and control the expenditures from appropriations for the commission. (9) To serve as secretary of the commission, to keep the minutes and records thereof, and in all other proper ways to facilitate the actions and proceedings of the commission. (10) To examine and qualify for appointment all employees of the commission except the director and the members of the commission, and to plan, direct and supervise their work. (11) To establish and maintain a record of all city employees, showing as to each the classification, position held, the salary or wages, the address, and any other necessary data, and all changes thereto. (12) With the approval of the commission, to allocate each position in the classified service to its appropriate class and pay level in the classification plan and reallocate positions as conditions warrant. (13) To recommend to the commission for its adoption amendments to the classification plan. (14) To make such investigations as he may deem desirable with respect to the enforcement and effect of the civil service provisions of the Charter, the ordinances, and the rules over which the commission has jurisdiction, and to make such other investigations as the commission or the mayor may request, and to make special reports thereon. (15) To aid the mayor and department directors in handling matters over which the commission has jurisdiction. (Ord. No. 2015-1300, § 2(Exh. A), 12-16-2015)

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH14CISE_ARTIIRU_DIV2RU2.CODIGEPUETRUFetched: 10/26/2026