HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5364

                       As Passed House

                        April 8, 1997

Title:  An act relating to local government unclassified employees.

Brief Description:  Authorizing counties to designate an unclassified position for their 911 emergency communications systems.

Sponsors:  Senator Snyder.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Government Administration:  3/25/97  [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  4/8/97, 97‑0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Chairman; D. Sommers, Vice Chairman; Scott, Ranking Minority Member; Gardner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Doumit; Dunshee; Reams; Smith; L. Thomas; Wensman and Wolfe.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:  State voters approved Initiative Measure No. 23 in 1958 providing for a civil service system of employment for deputy sheriffs and other persons who are regularly employed in the sheriff=s office.

Employees who are subject to the civil service system of employment are referred to as classified employees.  The sheriff and a number of additional employees of a sheriff=s office, which varies depending on the number of staff employed in the office, are not subject to civil service employment and are referred to as unclassified employees.  Such unclassified positions include the undersheriff, chief criminal deputy, chief civil deputy, and an administrative secretary.

Summary of Bill:  The sheriff of a county where the sheriff=s department operates the 911 emergency communication system may designate one unclassified position for the 911 emergency communication system who is in addition to other unclassified positions otherwise authorized.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This will allow Pacific County to have one more unclassified employee to run its 911 emergency.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Snyder, prime sponsor.