SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5127
As Passed Senate, March 9, 2001
Title: An act relating to determining the number of unclassified personnel in the sheriff's office.
Brief Description: Determining the number of unclassified personnel in the sheriff's office.
Sponsors: Senators Prentice, Patterson, McAuliffe and McDonald.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions: February 5, 2001, 2/19/01 [DP, DNP].
Passed Senate: 3/9/01, 48-0.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Fairley, Franklin, Rasmussen, Regala and Winsley.
Minority Report: Do not pass.
Signed by Senator Benton.
Staff: Casey Bui (786‑7448)
Background: Currently, county sheriff's departments employing more than 100 personnel are allowed up to six unclassified (exempt) staff positions. Departments in a county with at least 500,000 residents and operating under a home rule charter (King, Pierce and Snohomish counties) may employ up to 12 unclassified administrative staff regardless of personnel size.
Summary of Bill: The number of unclassified staff allowed per county sheriff's department is increased and new unclassified personnel staffing levels are designated for departments with more than 100 personnel. The maximum number of unclassified staff in departments with at least 251 but not more than 500 employees is eight. The maximum number of unclassified staff in departments with over 500 employees is ten.
The governing legislative authority for any county with at least 500,000 residents operating under a home rule charter may designate up to 20 unclassified administrative positions. This is in addition to the number set forth using the personnel formula.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: Sheriffs= departments have grown to the point that adjustments need to be made to the current exempt staff levels allowable under state law. This bill will enable large sheriffs= departments to manage growing departments and to serve more communities.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: PRO: Dave Reichert, King County Sheriff; Roger Juvet, King County Police Officers Guild.