(1) Every person appointed to a position in the preferred service shall be subject to a probationary period of employment. The probationary period shall commence immediately upon appointment and shall continue for such time, not less than one (1) year, as shall be established by the commissioner. At any time during the employee's probationary period the appointing authority may remove the employee if, in the opinion of the appointing authority, the employee's performance or conduct during the probationary period indicates that such employee is unable or unwilling to satisfactorily perform or is not satisfactorily performing the employee's duties, or that the employee's habits, dependability, or conduct do not merit continuance in the service.
(2) During the last month of an employee's probationary period, the appointing authority shall notify the commissioner in writing whether the performance and conduct of the employee have been satisfactory and whether continued employment is recommended.
(3) An employee in the preferred service who accepts another preferred service position within the same state agency shall serve a subsequent probationary period for a time period of not less than one (1) year. An employee serving a subsequent probationary period may appeal a suspension, demotion, or separation from service; provided, that an employee shall not appeal a demotion that returns the employee to the employee's immediately preceding former position.