SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5364

               As Passed Senate, March 11, 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 Operations:  2/13/97, 2/20/97 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/11/97, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  The sheriff=s department of each county may, according to the size of the department, designate a certain number of unclassified (exempt) position appointments.  The sheriff=s department of some counties also operates the 911 emergency communications system.

Summary of Bill:  In counties with a sheriff=s department that operates the 911 emergency  communications system, in addition to unclassified (exempt) positions currently authorized, the sheriff may designate one unclassified position for the 911 emergency communications system.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Because a number of units of government are involved in 911 activities, this will allow them to get together to declare who they want to administer the program and then the Pacific County Sheriff will appoint that person.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Snyder, prime sponsor; Jerry Benning, Pacific County Sheriff (pro).