HB160 Summary

• Designates certain Jefferson County positions as at-will unclassified employees exempt from the county merit system, including county attorneys, chief financial officer, department and agency heads, chief deputies, and positions in the county unclassified executive service.

• Unclassified employees have no right of appeal to the Personnel Board and no property interest in their positions, with compensation set by the appointing authority and approved by county commission majority.

• Classified service employees appointed to unclassified positions may return to classified service at the same job classification if terminated without cause, which includes failure to meet qualifications, malfeasance, felony convictions, incompetent performance, or moral unfitness.

• Employees already in classified service as department or agency heads before the effective date cannot be converted to unclassified status unless they voluntarily elect conversion, but conversion becomes mandatory for all new appointments to unclassified positions after the effective date.

• Unclassified employees remain eligible for county employee benefits including retirement unless they elect in writing to forfeit participation; effective immediately upon passage and approval.