MSS Program History
Background and Authority of the Merit System Services (MSS) Program
Oversight of local agency personnel systems connected to certain federal grant-in-aid programs under the Social Security Act was first assigned to the California Department of Social Welfare in 1941, pursuant to the Welfare and Institutions Code in effect at that time.
In 1965, Welfare and Institutions Code sections 119.5 and 119.6 were repealed and recodified as former section 10901. This change placed responsibility for establishing merit standards with the Director of the Department of Social Welfare. At the same time, former section 10902 was added, requiring the Director to contract with either the State Personnel Board (SPB) or another appropriate public agency for the examination and certification of eligible personnel.
Former sections 10903 and 10904 were also added to establish a Merit System Committee. The committee was responsible for advising the Director on personnel standards and matters, as well as hearing and deciding appeals from applicants and employees in counties that did not operate their own approved civil service systems. The Department of Social Welfare later evolved into what is now the California Department of Social Services.
In 1969, Assembly Bill 1781 repealed Welfare and Institutions Code sections 10901 through 10904 and added sections 19800 through 19811 to the Government Code. This legislation transferred responsibility for local agency merit systems to the State Personnel Board. During this period, the Merit System Services (MSS) Program was administered under contract by Cooperative Personnel Services HR Consulting (CPS-HR).
In 2013, Assembly Bill 1062 transferred responsibility for the MSS Program from the State Personnel Board to the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Although CalHR assumed program responsibility at that time, CPS-HR continued to manage the program under contract. Program management transitioned fully to CalHR beginning in 2018, and the CPS-HR contract concluded in 2020.
Current Program Administration
Today, pursuant to Government Code sections 19800 through 19811, CalHR is responsible for establishing merit standards and administering personnel systems for local agencies that administer federal grant-in-aid programs. CalHR’s primary responsibility is to ensure compliance with applicable federal merit system requirements.
CalHR fulfills this responsibility by approving and reviewing local agency personnel systems or, when required, directly administering those systems. By regulation, CalHR is authorized to establish and maintain merit-based personnel standards, audit and review local agency systems for compliance with federal requirements, and hear certain appeals related to employment decisions affecting program employees.
Local agencies that administer their own approved personnel systems under Government Code section 19802 are known as Approved Local Merit System (ALMS) counties. Under Government Code section 19803, subdivision (a), CalHR administers the merit systems for local agencies that do not operate their own systems. These agencies are commonly referred to as Interagency Merit System (IMS) counties.
Through the MSS Program, CalHR administers the federal grant-in-aid merit system for program employees in IMS counties and provides oversight of ALMS counties. Under this framework, all personnel standards affecting program employees must be based on merit and comply with federal requirements, including those set forth in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 900, Subpart F.
Please contact the MSS Program for any questions.
Program Transition Information
This information is related to the transition from CPS HR to CalHR control of the program. This information is for historical purposes only. Please direct any current inquiries about the Merit System Services Program to our mailbox or call us at 916-909-3701.
- MSS Transition Announcement Webinar | YouTube Video
-
-
- Transition Announcement Webinar Transcript: PDF
-
- MSS Transition Announcement Webinar Slide Deck: PDF
- MSS Transition Frequently Asked Questions
