A. Within state government, persons appointed to a position in the unclassified service after June 30, 1996, shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. Appointing authorities shall not convey any right or expectation of continued employment to such unclassified employees. The appointing authority may separate such unclassified employees at any time with or without cause. No provision of the Oklahoma Personnel Act shall be construed as granting any property interest in employment to any unclassified service employee.

B. Nothing in this section is intended to change the status of any unclassified employee appointed to a position on or before June 30, 1996.

C. This section shall not apply to persons in positions in institutions under the jurisdiction of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education or subject to the University Hospitals Authority Model Personnel System created pursuant to Section 3211 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

D. Agencies may provide severance benefits pursuant to Section 840-2.27D of this title to regular unclassified employees with one (1) year or more continuous state service who are separated from the state service for budgetary reasons. A plan providing for such benefits shall be submitted to the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services who shall reject any plan that does not:

1. Demonstrate that funds are available to cover projected costs;

2. Contain an estimate of the number of affected employees likely to participate in the education voucher program established in Section 840-2.27D of this title; and

3. Contain an estimate of the cost savings or reduced expenditures likely to be achieved by the agency.

Added by Laws 1996, c. 320, § 10, emerg. eff. June 12, 1996. Amended by Laws 2003, c. 212, § 19, eff. July 1, 2003; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 913.