Section 242.766 - Appointment or rejection of certified candidates by appointing power; probation; discharge; demotion(1) The appointing power shall appoint one of the certified candidates to the vacant position, on probation for a period of 12 months. If the appointing power considers the certified candidates unqualified for the vacant position it may reject the names of the certified candidates for appointment by submitting a written statement of the reasons for the rejection to the commission. The commission shall investigate and decide on the validity of the reasons submitted. Religious, racial and political reasons shall not be considered as valid reasons for rejection.(2) If the rejection of the appointing power is approved by the commission, the commission shall immediately certify to the appointing power the name and address of the next eligible candidate standing highest upon the register for the classification and grade to which the position belongs, and return the name of the rejected candidate to the same position on the eligible register from which the candidate was certified. The appointing power and the commission shall proceed in this manner for all rejected candidates until a qualified candidate is found for the vacant position.(3) If the rejection of the appointing power is not approved by the commission, the commission shall immediately notify the appointing power, in writing, that the reasons for rejection of the certified candidate or candidates are not sufficient for rejection, and upon receipt of this notice from the commission, the appointing power shall immediately appoint the certified candidate in question to the position for which the candidate was originally certified.(4) If the person on probation is a new appointee, the appointing power may discharge that person without regard to ORS 242.798 to 242.804 and in a like manner appoint another certified candidate and so continue until a qualified candidate has been found.(5) If the person on probation has been promoted, the appointing power may demote such person only for cause specified in ORS 242.796, and in the manner provided in ORS 242.798 to 242.804. If the reasons for such demotion are deemed insufficient by the commission, the demoted candidate shall, notwithstanding such demotion, be restored to the promoted position upon such conditions or terms as may be imposed by the commission.(6) If a person who has taken a promotional examination and been appointed to a position in a higher classification or grade on probation, fails to qualify for the position in the higher classification or grade within the probationary period, the person shall not lose seniority in the lower classification or grade from which such promotion was made, but shall return to employment and be reinstated in the position held in such lower classification or grade.