HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5077

As Reported by House Committee On:

Local Government & Housing

Title:  An act relating to the provisional employment of sheriff's employees.

Brief Description:  Modifying the provisional employment of sheriff's employees.

Sponsors:  By Senators Haugen and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Local Government & Housing:  3/19/01, 3/29/01 [DPA].

Brief Summary of Bill

(As Amended by House Committee)

$Authorizes the extension of a temporary civil service position in the county sheriff=s office beyond the four-month period and up to one year if the civil service commission continues to advertise and test for the position.

$Authorizes the appointing authority after one year to appoint a person off the list, if there are less than three persons on the eligible list for the class.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT & HOUSING

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Dunshee, Democratic Co‑Chair; Mulliken, Republican Co‑Chair; Edwards, Democratic Vice Chair; Mielke, Republican Vice Chair; Berkey, Crouse, DeBolt, Dunn, Edmonds, Hatfield, Jarrett and Kirby.

Staff:  Scott MacColl (786‑7106).

Background:

Civil service commissions for county deputy sheriffs and other employees of the county sheriffs= office are comprised of three members appointed by the county legislative authority.  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, the commission supplies the names of the three highest persons on the eligibility list for consideration to the appointing authority.

If there is no list available, the commission can authorize a temporary list for that job class.  A temporary appointment may be no longer than four months, and no person can receive more than one appointment per year.

Summary of  Amended Bill:

Authorizes the county civil service commission for deputy sheriffs and other employees of the office to extend temporary appointments beyond four months and up to one year if the commission continues to advertise and test for the position.

Authorizes the appointing authority to fill the position with any person on the eligibility list if after one year if there are less than three people on the eligibility list.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:

Clarifies that a temporary appointment beyond the initial four month appointment may be up to one year, and removes the requirement that commissions certify they are using due diligence in searching for candidates for the list.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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

Testimony For:  This is a rural county bill, brought by the Island County Civil Service Commission.  Employees of county sheriffs are civil service employees, and Island County hasn=t been able to find enough people to apply for the positions.  This bill would let the county hire someone temporarily up to one year if there were not enough candidates on the list.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified:  Senator Haugen, prime sponsor.