FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1750

C 14 L 20

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Filling vacancies in county sheriff offices.

Sponsors: Representatives Mosbrucker and Lovick.

House Committee on Local Government

Senate Committee on Local Government

Background:

Generally, the civil service commission (commission) for county deputy sheriffs and other employees of the office of county sheriffs is composed of three members appointed by the board of county commissioners.  The commission creates rules and regulations for examinations, gives practical and competitive tests, holds and determines appeals, and maintains the eligibility list.  When a vacancy occurs in the civil service within a sheriff's office, it is the duty of the commission to certify the names of the three highest persons on the eligibility list for consideration to the appointing authority for that job class.

If there is no list available, the commission must authorize a temporary list for that job class. A temporary appointment expires after four months. However, if the commission certifies that it continues to advertise and test for the position, the authority that made the temporary appointment may extend it beyond its four-month expiration. If no list of three prospective candidates for the position can be assembled within one year of the initial temporary appointment, then the position may be filled from a list of less than three prospective candidates.

In addition, whenever a position in the classified service becomes vacant, the appointing authority, if it desires to fill the vacancy, must request the names and addresses of eligible persons from the commission. However, before a request can be made, the appointing authority must give employees, who are in layoff status or who have been notified of an intended layoff, an opportunity to qualify for any class within the office of the appointing authority. The commission must certify the names of the three highest persons on the eligibility list for that job class and who are willing to accept employment. If there is no appropriate eligible list for the class, the commission must certify the names of the three persons standing highest on the list held appropriate for the job class.

Summary:

The bill increases the number of persons on an eligibility list authorized to fill a vacant position in a county sheriff's office. In all instances when a vacancy occurs, the commission must supply the names of the five (instead of the three) persons highest on the eligibility list for consideration to the appointing authority for that job class.

Votes on Final Passage: