Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

H.B. 700
                          GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
                                                                                               Apr 18, 2023
                                      SESSION 2023                                       HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
     H                                                                                                  D
                                    HOUSE BILL DRH40326-LM-93
     Short Title:   Sheriff's Deputies/Dismissals.                                                (Public)
     Sponsors:      Representative A. Jones.
     Referred to:
 1                                        A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 2   AN ACT PROVIDING THAT A SHERIFF SHALL NOT DISCHARGE A DEPUTY SHERIFF
 3       OR OTHER EMPLOYEE IN THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF FOR FAILING TO MAKE
 4       A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION TO THE SHERIFF OR THE SHERIFF'S CAMPAIGN
 5       COMMITTEE.
 6   The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
 7                SECTION 1. G.S. 153A-103 reads as rewritten:
 8   "§ 153A-103. Number of employees in offices of sheriff and register of deeds.
 9       Subject to the limitations set forth below, the board of commissioners may fix the number of
10   salaried employees in the offices of the sheriff and the register of deeds. In exercising the
11   authority granted by this section, the board of commissioners is subject to the following
12   limitations:
13                (1)     Each sheriff and register of deeds elected by the people has the exclusive right
14                        to hire, discharge, and supervise the employees in his office. However, the his
15                        or her office; provided, however, a sheriff shall not discharge a deputy sheriff
16                        or other employee for failing to make a campaign contribution to the sheriff
17                        or the sheriff's campaign committee. The board of commissioners must
18                        approve the appointment by such an officer of a relative by blood or marriage
19                        of nearer kinship than first cousin or of a person who has been convicted of a
20                        crime involving moral turpitude.
21                (2)     Each sheriff and register of deeds elected by the people is entitled to at least
22                        two deputies who shall be reasonably compensated by the county, provided
23                        that the register of deeds justifies to the Board of County Commissioners the
24                        necessity of the second deputy. Each deputy so appointed shall serve at the
25                        pleasure of the appointing officer.
26       Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, approval of the board of
27   commissioners is not required for the reappointment or continued employment of a near relative
28   of a sheriff or register of deeds who was not related to the appointing officer at the time of initial
29   appointment."
30                SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law.
                                     *DRH40326-LM-93*
Statutes affected: 
Filed: 153A-103
Edition 1: 153A-103