Alabama § 45-49-120.25 - Investigations.

§ 45-49-120.25. Investigations.

The board or its designated agent shall make studies upon all matters touching the enforcement and the effect of this part and the rules and regulations prescribed thereunder. Members of the board or its agent or agents may visit all places of employment and services affected by this part in order to ascertain and advise with the heads of the various departments concerning their methods of handling those matters affecting employees in the service, such as hours of work, attendance, training, working conditions, and morale, and in order to ascertain whether this part and the rules promulgated thereunder are obeyed. The board in the course of such inquiries shall have the power to administer oaths, and subpoena and require the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, documents, and accounts pertaining to the subject under investigation. All hearings and inquiries made by the board shall be governed by this part and by rules or practice and procedure adopted by the board, and in conducting such inquiries they shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence. No informality in any proceeding or in the manner of taking testimony by the board shall invalidate any order, decision, rule, or regulation made by the board, provided, however, that the constitutional rights of no individual shall be abridged. The board or its designated agent or agents shall have the authority to inquire concerning the number of employees in any department or office, and if after notice, and opportunity to be heard to the appointing authority and to the employees affected, in the board’s judgment there is an excessive number of employees in proportion to the amount of work required in such department or office, they shall issue an order in writing to the appointing authority that the number of employees so found to be excessive, be laid off or transferred, and this order shall be promptly carried out by the appointing authority. The board or its designated agent or agents shall also study the organization, procedure or any other business matter which might affect the classified employment of the different departments and suggest such changes in procedure as may increase efficiency or enable the organization to carry on its work more economically.