SB158 Summary

• Authorizes the Judge of Probate, Place 1 in Jefferson County to appoint 6 additional at-will confidential judicial assistants in addition to those authorized by Act 2012-547.

• Establishes salary grades for the assistants: 2 at grade level 18, 1 at grade level 23, 2 at grade level 24, and 1 at grade level 37, as determined by Jefferson County Personnel Board.

• Requires salary and benefits to be paid from the probate court archival and operational fund established by Act 2012-547.

• Entitles confidential judicial assistants to the same employee benefits as merit system employees and permits them to join any county pension plan within 30 days of appointment.

• Guarantees that employees who were previously in merit system positions may return to equal or higher grade positions upon termination as confidential judicial assistants, with prior service credited.