SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5077

 

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

State & Local Government, February 5, 2001

 

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

 

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

 

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen and Rasmussen.

 

Brief History: 

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  1/25/01, 2/5/01 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

 

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5077 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Kline, McCaslin, T. Sheldon and Swecker.

 

Staff:  Diane Smith (786‑7410)

 

Background:  The civil service commission for county deputy sheriffs and other employees of the office of county sheriffs is comprised of three members appointed by the board of county commissioners.  When a vacancy occurs, the commission must certify three persons highest on the list of persons eligible for that job class.  If there is no list, then the commission must authorize a temporary appointment list for the class.  Any temporary appointment can last no more than four months and any one person may receive only one temporary appointment in one fiscal year.  The eligible list for some job classes can remain empty beyond four months despite the commission=s best efforts to recruit qualified applicants.

 

Summary of Substitute Bill:  If the commission certifies that it continues to use due diligence in advertising and testing 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 by one year after the initial temporary appointment was made, then the position may be filled from a list of less than three prospective candidates.

 

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Provisions are added for a resolution of the problem of there being less than three qualified applicants for the job after the passage of one year's time.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

 

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

 

Testimony For:  There is a problem filling the small unique positions in the sheriff's department.  A one‑year limitation on the temporary appointment is reasonable.

 

Testimony Against:  None.

 

Testified:  PRO:  Dr. J.K. Johnston, Marie Taylor, Island County Civil Service Commission; Steven Tomson, WASPC, Whitman County Sheriff.