AGENCY TESTIMONY
Response to Intro 671 on civil service exam fee waivers
0:11:00
ยท
79 sec
DCAS expresses support for the spirit of Intro 671 but notes that eliminating civil service exam fees may not significantly increase the number of exam takers or passing candidates. The department shares insights from past fee waiver initiatives and aligns the bill with recent state legislation.
- Past fee waiver initiatives did not increase the number of actual test takers
- The bill aligns with a new state law expanding opportunities for high school seniors to take civil service exams
- DCAS has already operationalized the state law's requirements
Katrina Porter
0:11:00
Before concluding, I would like to speak, to intro, 671.
0:11:06
DCAS supports the spirit of this legislation.
0:11:10
However, I should note that through our work, we have found that eliminating civil service exam fees does not increase the number of exam takers or passing candidates.
0:11:21
Despite introducing several several avenues for applicants to have exam fees waived over the years, many of which remain in place, we have found that while most more people may apply to take exams, the number of test takers, that show up for the exam does not increase.
0:11:41
We believe that this bill aligns with the state's new law that expands opportunities for high school seniors to take civil service exams, within 12 months of meeting diploma and age requirements, which has already been operationalized, at DCAS.
0:12:02
I hope we have made it clear that the city and DCAS are, constantly working to ensure agencies have access to the tools necessary to recruit and retain the staff they need, to deliver on their individual missions and provide vital city services to the people of New York.