HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 816

BYRepresentatives Cole, Patrick and P. King 

Changing provisions relating to county sheriff civil service systems.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:     Do pass.  (13)

     Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Beck, Bumgarner, Ferguson, Hine, Madsen, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Rayburn, L. Smith and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 13, 1987

BACKGROUND:

A civil service system of employment is provided for each county sheriffs' office.  A class AA county may establish a separate civil service system for its sheriff's or police office if the separate system substantially accomplishes the purpose of the statewide civil service system.

A class AA county is a county that has a population of at least 500,000 at the last federal decennial census.  At present only King County is a class AA county, but Pierce County has the requisite population and will become a class AA county at the next federal census.

SUMMARY:

The ability of a class AA county to establish a separate civil service system of employment for its sheriff's office is removed. A class AA county may assign all the powers and duties of the civil service commission to a county department or agency, except the authority to remove, suspend, demote, or discharge a civil service employee.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Representative Cole, Prime Sponsor; and Ron Main, King County.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     This is a technical bill more fully describing how the King County Police Department's civil service now operates.  Deputies have no problems with the bill.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.