HB 1613

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to the Walton County Sheriff's Office;
3	providing the Walton County Sheriff's Office Career
4	Service Employees' Act; providing applicability; providing
5	for permanent status; providing for suspension, demotion,
6	and dismissal; providing authority of the sheriff;
7	providing for transition to new sheriff; providing
8	authority of sheriff to adopt rules and regulations;
9	providing beginning date of employees; providing for
10	reimbursement of class C travel; providing for
11	severability; providing an effective date.
12
13	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15	Section 1.  Walton County Sheriff's Office Career Service
16	Employees' Act.--
17	(1)  APPLICABILITY.--The transition provisions of this act
18	shall apply to all full-time sworn and civilian employees in the
19	employ of the Walton County Sheriff's Office. Those who hold the
20	positions of Lieutenant and above as well as the financial
21	officers and the secretary to the Sheriff shall be excluded from
22	the provisions of this act. The provisions of this act shall not
23	apply to the Sheriff or the Sheriff's Reserve and Auxiliary and
24	the individuals appointed as part-time Deputy Sheriffs as
25	defined by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training
26	Commission, unless such person is also employed full-time by the
27	Walton County Sheriff's Office. As used in this act, the terms
28	"employee," "employ," and "employment" shall refer to all
29	persons, whether employed or appointed, to whom the act applies.
30	It is not, however, the intent of this act to grant the right to
31	collective bargaining to the persons in the employ of the Walton
32	County Sheriff's Office who do not otherwise have that right
33	pursuant to law.
34	(2)  PERMANENT STATUS; CAUSE FOR SUSPENSION, DEMOTION, OR
35	DISMISSAL.--
36	(a)  After an employee of the Sheriff to whom the
37	provisions of this act apply has served in such employment for a
38	period of 1 calendar year, such employee shall have attained
39	permanent status with the Walton County Sheriff's Office;
40	provided that if such an employee is terminated and rehired at a
41	later date, said employee shall be required to complete 1
42	calendar year of service from the date of rehire before being
43	granted permanent status, regardless of the reason for
44	termination.
45	(b)  Any employee who has achieved permanent status is not
46	exempt from the disciplinary provisions as defined in the Walton
47	County Sheriff's Office Policy and Procedure Manual. Causes for
48	suspension, demotion, or dismissal will follow the established
49	procedures outlined in the Walton County Sheriff's Office Policy
50	and Procedure Manual. It is not a demotion under this act or the
51	Walton County Sheriff's Office policy to be reassigned from
52	special duties or from one shift or zone assignment to another
53	or to be transferred from one division to another for the
54	betterment of the department, even if a reduction in pay
55	results.
56	(c)  The Sheriff shall hold the authority to promote,
57	demote, transfer, and determine disciplinary measures, including
58	dismissal.
59	(3)  TRANSITION OF CAREER SERVICE EMPLOYEES.--When a newly
60	elected or appointed Sheriff assumes office, the new Sheriff
61	shall continue the employment of all currently employed
62	permanent personnel with the exceptions of those positions
63	defined in subsection (1), unless there is just cause for
64	dismissal as outlined in the Walton County Sheriff's Office
65	Policy and Procedures Manual.
66	(4)  ADMINISTRATION.--The Sheriff shall have the authority
67	to adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary for the
68	implementation and administration of this act; however, nothing
69	in this act shall be construed as affecting the budget-making
70	powers of the Board of County Commissioners of Walton County.
71	Section 2.  (1)  All sworn and civilian persons in the
72	employ of the Walton County Sheriff's Office on the effective
73	date of this act who have served for a period of 1 calendar year
74	or more as of such date shall be permanent employees subject to
75	the provisions of this act. All other employees shall become
76	permanent employees subject to the provisions of this act upon
77	reaching their 1 calendar year service anniversary date.
78	Promotions, probationary service periods, demotions, transfers,
79	and suspensions will not and do not affect the determination of
80	the original career service beginning date (anniversary date) of
81	employment for Walton County Sheriff's Office employees. The
82	beginning date (anniversary date) of employment for sworn
83	officers is and will be the date the Sheriff swears the officers
84	in as law enforcement officers. The beginning of service for
85	civilian employees will be the beginning date (anniversary date)
86	as indicated by personnel and payroll records.
87	(2)  Any provisions of this act shall not add to or detract
88	from the constitutional authority of the Sheriff.
89	Section 3.  Notwithstanding the provisions of section
90	112.061(6)(b), Florida Statutes, the Walton County Board of
91	County Commissioners may reimburse the Chief of Administration
92	for the Walton County Sheriff's Office for Class C travel on a
93	per diem basis or on a subsistence allowable basis.
94	Section 4.  The provisions of this act shall be severable
95	and if any provision shall be held unconstitutional, the
96	decision of the court regarding that provision shall not affect
97	the validity of the remaining provisions. It is hereby declared
98	to be the intent of the Legislature that the remaining
99	provisions of the act would have been adopted had such
100	unconstitutional provisions not been included therein.
101	Section 5.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.