It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 36-4-16.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-4 entitled "Merit System" is hereby amended to read as follows:

36-4-16.2. Duties and responsibilities of the board. -- It shall be the duty of the board to establish a pay plan for unclassified employees of the state, including such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement and complement the plan. Upon establishment of the pay plan, it will be the duty of the board to allocate all new unclassified positions to existing grades within the plan, and to review at least once annually all existing unclassified positions and to reallocate those positions within the pay plan as they deem proper; provided, however, that no new unclassified position shall be created or allocated or reallocated to any grade within the plan unless the proposed action shall have been twice considered by the board at two consecutive public meetings.; and provided further, however that any unclassified position that has been vacant for more than twelve (12) months shall be canceled and removed from the unclassified pay plan unless within such twelve (12) months the person having supervisory authority over such position requests an extension, in which case the board may approve an extension of not more than twelve (12) months.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.