The proposed bill establishes a new civil service system for the City of Helena, Shelby County, and creates a personnel board to oversee its implementation. Key provisions include the definitions of terms such as "appointing authority," "classified service," and "personnel board," as well as the structure of the board, which will consist of three members: one elected by city employees, one appointed by the mayor and city council, and one selected by the first two members. The board is responsible for adopting policies, hearing appeals related to disciplinary actions, and conducting regular meetings. The bill also provides for the appointment of a personnel director by the mayor, who will implement the board's policies and can be suspended or terminated for cause, with the right to appeal to the board. Notably, the bill repeals Act 92-201 from the 1992 Regular Session, replacing the previous civil service framework with this new structure.

Additionally, the bill introduces amendments to the existing personnel management framework, including the establishment of a classification plan for city employees, a comprehensive pay plan, and guidelines for filling vacancies. It emphasizes fair compensation based on job difficulty and the city's financial condition, while also ensuring that accrued benefits for employees in regular service cannot be diminished. The bill clarifies disciplinary actions, outlines the appeals process for dismissals, demotions, or suspensions, and prohibits discrimination in employment based on various characteristics. It also allows regular employees to resign for the purpose of running for public office, with specific conditions for reinstatement. Overall, the bill aims to create a structured and equitable system for managing city employees while ensuring compliance with overarching city policies.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 11-43-3, 11-43-5