(a) (1) Every applicant for examination shall file an application with the department or a designated appointing power as directed in the examination announcement. Applications shall be accepted free of any charge to the applicant. Filed applications and all other examination materials, including examination questions and any written material, are the property of the department and are confidential records not open to inspection except as provided by law.
(2) The application shall include a place for listing volunteer experience and that experience shall be considered if it is relevant to the position being applied for and shall state that relevant volunteer experience will be given consideration as qualifying experience for state employment.
(b) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2017, and is repealed on January 1, 2018.