SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2328

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           Government Operations, February 20, 1998

Title:  An act relating to unclassified employees in the office of sheriff.

Brief Description:  Allowing for an extra unclassified employee in a sheriff's office that has adopted a system of community‑oriented policing.

Sponsors:  Representatives Sterk, Bush and Sheahan.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  2/19/98, 2/20/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Hale, Vice Chair; Haugen, Horn and Patterson.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  Each sheriff=s office is authorized to have a number of Aunclassified@ positions that are exempt from the civil service system of employment, based upon the number of personnel in the sheriff=s office or whether the county operates under a charter and has a population of 500,000 or more operating under a county charter.  Undersheriff, chief criminal deputy, chief civil deputy, jail superintendent, and administrative assistant are examples of unclassified positions.

A county operating an emergency 911 communications system within its sheriff=s department is authorized to have one more unclassified position for the 911 emergency communications system that is in addition to the number of such positions otherwise allowed for that county.

Summary of Bill:  A county with a sheriff=s office that has adopted a system of community-oriented policing is authorized to have one more unclassified position to manage the community-oriented policing system that is in addition to the number of such positions otherwise allowed for that county.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  We need to fill this position with someone who has the requisite skills and sensitivity for the position, not just someone who scores well on an exam.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Dan LaRoche, Douglas County Sheriff/WASPC (pro).