ME LD1741

County commissioners and personnel boards must give deference and rebuttable presumptions of fairness and professional necessity to a sheriff's decisions to discipline, suspend, dismiss, or not reappoint deputies and subordinate employees

When a sheriff vacancy occurs, the chief deputy automatically becomes acting sheriff with full powers and duties until the position is filled

Acting sheriffs must be included for consideration when a county political party committee submits recommendations to the Governor to fill a sheriff vacancy

County commissioners are required to provide sheriffs with sufficient funds for office expenses, clerk hire, travel, expert consultation, personnel recruitment and training, and strategic planning

County commissioners must provide suitable office space for sheriffs, including private areas for research, conferences, and meetings; if county property is unavailable, they must fund rental of suitable quarters near the jail and courthouses