(a) The commission shall provide written notice of each contemplated involuntary separation to each chief executive officer of each state department, which notice shall contain the information required in the notice to the commission under Code Section 45-24-5 and be provided at least 60 days prior to the effective date of the contemplated involuntary separation. Within 21 days after such notice is sent by first-class mail, each such department chief executive officer shall provide a written response to the commission regarding whether or not such department has available any position of continued employment for that official or employee proposed for termination from employment which may meet the requirements of paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of Code Section 45-24-8. A failure of a department chief executive officer to provide a written response in accordance with the provisions of this subsection shall result in that chief executive officer's department becoming ineligible to have any increase in the number of employees in such department for the next two fiscal years, shall authorize the commission to require that chief executive officer to appear and testify before any meeting of the commission scheduled in accordance with subsection (c) of this Code section, and shall also authorize the commission to obtain a writ of mandamus against such chief executive officer to compel the performance of any duties imposed by this subsection upon such officer.

(b) If any response provided under subsection (a) of this Code section shows the availability of continued employment, the commission shall meet within 14 days after the response deadline to determine whether the continued employment indicated in any response meets the requirements of paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of Code Section 45-24-8. If the commission determines such response meets those requirements, it shall offer continued employment in that position to the officer or employee on whose behalf the response was obtained; otherwise, the commission shall proceed as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section. Any official or employee who is thus offered a position of continued employment shall be deemed to have resigned from service at his or her own choice upon that person's failure to accept the position of continued employment, and no such official or employee so resigning from service shall qualify for retirement benefits based upon involuntary separation from employment without prejudice.

(c) If none of the responses obtained from department chief executives under subsection (a) of this Code section shows availability of continued employment meeting the requirements of paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of Code Section 45-24-8, the commission chairperson shall schedule a meeting of the commission to review the release or separation. Five members of the commission shall be a quorum. At the meeting, the employer shall have the burden of convincing the commission that the involuntary separation is necessary, justified, and in the best interests of the state. The commission may request as much information and may meet as many times on each case as it deems necessary to reach an informed decision. No action shall be taken on the separation of the officer or employee until the commission makes a final determination as to whether the separation is necessary, justified, and in the best interests of the state.