DENVER (AP) -- Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper and former Govs. Bill Ritter and Bill Owens are expressing support for a ballot question this November to revise the state's personnel system.

The rules governing how the state hires, pays, and retains employees has not been updated since the 1970s.

Hickenlooper says the outdated rules create a "level of clumsiness" in the personnel system.

Amendment S would increase the number and type of employees who are exempt from the state personnel system, give the state more flexibility to asses candidates in addition to current testing, and provide hiring preferences for veterans. The change would also expand the pool of candidates the state can hire from.

Owens, a Republican, says the proposal is one both parties can support.