HB 0275, Engrossed 1 2003
   
1 A bill to be entitled
2          An act relating to Glades County; providing for career
3    service; specifying rights of certain employees of the
4    Glades County Sheriff; providing definitions; providing
5    proceedings and provisions with respect to dismissal;
6    providing for transition between administrations;
7    providing for appeals procedures; providing for career
8    appeals boards; providing for per diem for certain
9    employees; providing severability; providing an effective
10    date.
11         
12          Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
13         
14          Section 1. Employees and appointees of Glades County
15    Sheriff; applicability of Act; career status and administration;
16    definitions; transitions; administration.--
17          (1) APPLICABILITY.--The provisions of this Act apply to
18    all certified and noncertified persons appointed or employed by
19    the Glades County Sheriff, with the following exceptions:
20          (a) Commanders, or in the event of a title change, the
21    highest ranked certified law enforcement officers reporting
22    directly to the Sheriff.
23          (b) Special deputy sheriffs appointed under section
24    30.09(4), Florida Statutes.
25          (c) Members of a sheriff's posse or reserve unit.
26          (d) Part-time appointees and employees, whether salaried
27    or hourly paid, who are scheduled to work less than 24 hours per
28    week.
29          (e) Independent contractors, temporary employees, or
30    contract employees.
31          (f) Appointees and employees employed pursuant to a grant
32    whose continued existence or funding is subject to the
33    expiration or withdrawal of the grant provider.
34          (2) APPLICATION TO CERTAIN DISMISSED PERSONS.--This Act
35    does not apply to an otherwise covered person who claims that a
36    dismissal was for lawful off-duty political activity or
37    discriminatory reasons.
38          (3) INDEPENDENT MAINTENANCE.--This Act does not change the
39    independence of the Sheriff as set forth in section 30.53,
40    Florida Statutes, which reserves the final authority and
41    responsibility of dismissing employees and appointees solely to
42    the Sheriff's discretion.
43          (4) APPLICATION TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.--This Act does
44    not grant the right of collective bargaining to the Sheriff's
45    employees who do not otherwise have that right pursuant to law.
46          (5) NONDISCIPLINARY DISMISSALS.--This Act does not cover
47    the nondisciplinary dismissal of employees or appointees. Such
48    nondisciplinary dismissals include those arising from a
49    reduction in force, layoff, or partial or total abolition or
50    cessation of a program, service, operation, department,
51    subdivision, or grant-funded position, at the discretion of the
52    Sheriff.
53          (6) DEFINITIONS.--
54          (a) "Appointee" means that person selected by the Sheriff
55    to serve in the position of Deputy Sheriff or Correctional
56    Officer who is certified within the meaning of chapter 943,
57    Florida Statutes.
58          (b) "Employee" means any person employed by the Sheriff
59    for a position which does not require certification under
60    chapter 943, Florida Statutes.
61          (c) "Dismissal" means the discharge or withdrawal of
62    appointment by the Sheriff or his or her designee of a person
63    employed or appointed to a position with the Office of Sheriff.
64          (d) "Initial probationary period" means 1 year of
65    conditional employment or appointment commencing on the initial
66    date of actual work and continuing for 12 months in a regularly
67    established position. This probationary period may be extended
68    at the discretion of the Sheriff for a period equal to any work
69    time taken off during the 12-month period. This initial 12-month
70    probationary period may also be extended at the discretion of
71    the Sheriff for an additional 6 months.
72          (e) "Career Appeals Board" means the ad hoc board
73    authorized under this Act to hear disciplinary dismissal
74    appeals.
75          (f) "Reemployment" means the reappointment or reemployment
76    of a person who was previously an appointee or employee of the
77    Office of Sheriff.
78         
79          For the purposes of this Act, "appointee" and "employee" are
80    synonymous and any derivative of "employ" refers to the persons
81    to whom this Act applies.
82          (7) CAREER STATUS.--
83          (a) After any employee or appointee of the Sheriff to whom
84    the provisions of this Act apply has completed the initial or
85    extended probationary period, such person shall have attained
86    career status in the Office of Sheriff. If such person is
87    reemployed at a later date, said person shall be required to
88    again complete the probationary period before being granted the
89    right of appeal provided in section 2.
90          (b) At any time the Sheriff may dismiss an appointee or
91    employee who has not completed the initial or extended
92    probationary period without granting the right of appeal
93    provided in section 2.
94          (c) Any person who has attained career status must be
95    provided with written notice of the reasons for the proposed
96    dismissal. If, however, the Sheriff perceives a significant
97    hazard in keeping the employee on the job, or where delay could
98    result in damage or injury, the employee may be immediately
99    dismissed without notice and reasons, provided, however, that
100    the employee is later provided with such notice and reasons
101    within 2 calendar days after from the date of dismissal, except
102    where circumstances surrounding this situation make notice
103    within 2 days impracticable.
104          (d) An employee or appointee who has achieved career
105    status is entitled to appeal a disciplinary dismissal to the
106    Career Appeals Board.
107          (8) TRANSITION.--When a newly elected or appointed Sheriff
108    assumes office, all career status appointees and employees shall
109    remain employees of the new administration, including Bureau,
110    Division, and Judicial Services Commanders as defined in
111    paragraph (1)(a). Persons entitled to the rights of this
112    provision are those who have achieved career service status and
113    who hold the rank of Commander, Captain, Lieutenant, or the
114    positions of Personnel/Budget Director or Sheriff's Secretary
115    when the new Sheriff assumes office.
116          (a) The new Sheriff may only reduce a Commander, Captain,
117    and Lieutenant one rank below the rank held on the day before
118    the new Sheriff assumes office.
119          (b) The new Sheriff may assign the Personnel/Budget
120    Director and the Sheriff's Secretary to the next highest
121    position classification within the pay and classification
122    system.
123          (c) The reductions in rank and reassignments stated in
124    paragraphs (a) and (b) shall remain in effect for no more than 6
125    months and thereafter their position or assignment shall be at
126    the Sheriff's discretion.
127          (d) The salary of any displaced officer or person shall
128    not be reduced below the maximum of the new grade which is
129    applicable to his or her new position as set forth in the
130    existing pay and classification guide or by an increment greater
131    than 6 percent of the person’s rate of pay or salary for his or
132    her existing position, whichever results in the lower salary
133    minimum level.
134          (e) The Commanders, Directors, and other employees and
135    appointees set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) shall retain
136    career service appeal rights applicable to their reduced rank or
137    reassigned position as set forth in this section.
138          (9) ADMINISTRATION.--The Sheriff shall have the authority
139    to adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary for the
140    implementation and administration of this Act; however, nothing
141    in this Act shall be construed as affecting the budget-making
142    powers of the Board of County Commissioners of Glades County.
143          Section 2. Career Appeals Board; creation; membership;
144    duties.--
145          (1) FUNCTION OF BOARDS.--Ad Hoc Career Appeals Boards
146    shall be appointed for the purpose of hearing appeals of
147    employees having career status arising from their disciplinary
148    dismissal. Any such Board may also provide assistance and advice
149    to the Sheriff in matters concerning disciplinary dismissal and
150    may take any other actions authorized by the Sheriff.
151          (a) A Career Appeals Board shall be utilized to make a
152    nonbinding recommendation to the Sheriff as to whether the
153    dismissal was for a violation of Sheriff's Office policy, rule,
154    regulation, procedure, or practice.
155          (b) An employee or appointee who is dismissed is not
156    granted the right of appeal if said person is charged with a
157    crime, enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or is
158    adjudicated guilty or where adjudication of guilt is withheld
159    and the accused is placed on probation or in a pretrial
160    intervention plan with respect to any felony, misdemeanor, or
161    major traffic infraction.
162          (2) MEMBERSHIP OF BOARD.--Upon the call of the Sheriff or
163    upon the filing of an appeal, an Ad Hoc Career Appeals Board
164    shall be appointed. The membership of each Board shall consist
165    of five appointees or employees of the Office of Sheriff. Two
166    members shall be selected by the employee or appointee filing
167    the appeal, two members shall be selected by the Sheriff, and
168    the fifth member, who shall serve as the Chair of the Board,
169    shall be selected by the other four members. If these four
170    members are unable to agree upon the fifth member within 15 days
171    after the filing of the appeal and after exercising due
172    diligence, they shall request the circuit court to appoint the
173    fifth member who shall serve as Chair. Any employee may decline
174    to serve as a member of the Board.
175          (a) The Chair of the Board shall have the authority to
176    decide all motions or preliminary matters which are raised prior
177    to the opening of the appeals hearing. Any such decision may be
178    renewed before the Board.
179          (b) The hearing shall be conducted during the Sheriff's
180    Office administrative office hours; therefore, employees
181    selected to serve on the Board shall serve without additional
182    compensation. Once selected, the members of the Board shall
183    serve until the Board issues its recommendations to the
184    Sheriff's Office, and, unless reconvened, the Board shall be
185    dissolved.
186          (c) The Director or his or her designee in charge of
187    personnel matters shall serve as an ex officio member of the
188    Board for the purpose of providing procedural guidance to the
189    Board concerning the application of this Act and any rules or
190    regulations of this Act and any rules or regulations adopted by
191    the Sheriff relating thereto, but such ex officio member shall
192    have no vote.
193          (3) PROCEDURE WITH RESPECT TO APPEALS.--An employee or
194    appointee who has achieved career status may submit a written
195    request for a hearing to the Sheriff or his or her designee
196    within 7 calendar days after receiving a Notice of Dismissal
197    which shall be hand-delivered or sent certified mail, return
198    receipt requested. The appeal must contain a brief statement of
199    the matters to be considered by the Career Appeals Board and the
200    names of the employees selected to serve on the Board.
201          (a) A Career Appeals Board shall be selected and shall
202    meet for the purpose of hearing the appeal within 30 calendar
203    days after receipt of the Notice of Appeal. However, an
204    extension of time may be granted by the Chair for good cause or
205    upon agreement of the parties.
206          (b) The person filing the appeal has the right to a public
207    hearing, to be represented by a person of his or her choice, to
208    present relevant evidence, to present argument, and to cross
209    examine witnesses.
210          (c) The rules of evidence and civil procedure are not
211    applicable to hearings conducted under this Act.
212          (d) The Board, in conducting such hearings, shall have the
213    power to administer oaths, issue subpoenas, compel the
214    attendance of witnesses, and require the production of
215    documents. In case of disobedience of any person to comply with
216    the order of the Board or subpoena issued by the Board, or upon
217    the refusal of the witness to testify on any matter regarding
218    which he or she may be lawfully interrogated, a county judge of
219    the county in which a person resides, upon application of the
220    Board, shall compel obedience by proceeding as if it were
221    contempt. Each witness who appears in obedience to a subpoena
222    before the Board shall receive compensation for attendance fees
223    and mileage as provided for witnesses in civil cases and the
224    courts of this state. Such payment shall be made by the party
225    calling the witness, except that with respect to any witness
226    called by the Board, payment shall be made by the Sheriff upon
227    presentation of proper vouchers.
228          (e) The Board shall, by majority vote, dispose of the
229    appeal for which it was appointed by making a finding of fact
230    and issuing its written recommendations, including mitigating
231    circumstances, to the Sheriff for consideration. The Sheriff
232    shall retain the right of final determination and no person may
233    be reinstated with or without back pay or benefits without the
234    concurrence of the Sheriff.
235          Section 3. Per Diem.--Notwithstanding the provisions of
236    section 112.061(6)(d), Florida Statutes, the Glades County Board
237    of County Commissioners may reimburse the Chief Deputy of the
238    Glades County Sheriff’s Office for Class C travel on a per diem
239    basis or on a subsistence allowance basis.
240          Section 4. Severability.--The provisions of this Act shall
241    be severable, and if any provision shall be unconstitutional,
242    the decision of the court shall not affect the validity of the
243    remaining provisions.
244          Section 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
245