HB475 Summary

• Council members are prohibited from directing appointments/removals or giving orders to city manager subordinates; violations result in Class B misdemeanor on first offense and Class A misdemeanor on second offense, with complaints referred to district attorney.

• Creates position of assistant city manager to perform city manager duties during temporary absence or disability, and establishes a city planner position.

• Council may only enter into employment contracts with the city manager; other department heads removed without cause receive six-month severance packages.

• Amends election procedures to move council induction meetings from October to November and changes accounting examination frequency from every two years to every four years.

• Becomes effective immediately upon Governor approval, except Section 3.10 criminal penalties which take effect at the next city council term.