Countywide personnel system.

(a) The County Commission of Bibb County may establish and administer a countywide personnel system based on principles of human resource management which shall include equity, fairness, and compliance with all applicable state and federal laws.

(b) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:

(1) APPOINTING AUTHORITY. All persons having the authority to hire, fire, and discipline employees for their department.

(2) CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE. An individual who is assigned to an on-going position, full or part-time, authorized by the county commission and whose salary is paid with funds allocated by the county commission, regardless of the source of those funds, and who is required initially to complete a probationary period.

(3) COUNTY. Bibb County, Alabama.

(4) COUNTY COMMISSION. The governing body of Bibb County or any succeeding governing system that may be established.

(5) DISCIPLINARY ACTION. Suspension without pay, demotion, or termination only.

(6) EMPLOYEE. Any individual who works for the county in a temporary, part-time, classified, or unclassified position whose salary is paid with funds allocated by the county commission.

(7) PART-TIME EMPLOYEE. An individual who works for the county on an on-going basis and is regularly scheduled to work less than 30 hours per week.

(8) TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE. An individual who works for the county for a predetermined time period that is no more than six months.

(9) UNCLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE. An individual who works for the county and whose employment is the same as a classified employee except that the individual serves at the pleasure of an elected official.

(10) VACANCY. A position approved and funded by the county commission which is currently unoccupied.

(c) There is established a personnel system for Bibb County based on all of the following principles:

(1) Recruiting, selecting, and advancing employees based on their ability, knowledge, and skills, including the open competition of qualified applicants for initial and subsequent appointment.

(2) Establishing compensation rates consistent with the principle of comparable pay for comparable jobs.

(3) Training employees, as needed, to assure quality job performance.

(4) Retaining employees on the basis of county needs, adequacy of performance, correcting inadequate performance when possible, and disciplining employees, including discharge, when the actions are in the best interest of the county.

(5) Assuring fair treatment of applicants and employees in all aspects of personnel administration without regard to political affiliation, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, or age.

(d) All personnel activities required to create or administer the personnel system authorized by this section shall be based upon rules, policies, and procedures adopted by the county commission as necessary to implement this section. All county employees shall be hired, retained, and separated based on the rules, policies, and procedures. This personnel system shall apply to all employees except the following:

(1) Elected officials.

(2) Members of appointed boards and commissions.

(3) Volunteer personnel who receive no compensation from the county.

(4) Persons performing work under contract with the county and not carried on the payroll as employees.

(5) Persons whose employment is subject to the approval of the United States government or the State of Alabama.

(6) Other persons so designated by the county commission who meet the intent of this subsection.

(e) An individual's employment with Bibb County is contingent upon all of the following:

(1) Availability of funds.

(2) Need for the work to be performed.

(3) Compliance by the employee with all rules, policies, and procedures established in accordance with this section.

(4) Completion of a satisfactory probationary period.

(5) Continued satisfactory job performance by the employee.

(f) The county commission may develop, implement, and administer a countywide personnel system that is consistent with this section. All rules, policies, and procedures necessary to implement this section shall be approved by the county commission. The county commission may employ individuals to assist in the performance of those activities necessary to administer the county personnel system. The county commission may also grant special awards and incentives to employees in accordance with preestablished guidelines.

(g) Each county appointing authority may hire, fire, and discipline employees within their department. Appointing authorities shall include, but not be limited to, the county coordinator, the sheriff, the judge of probate, the tax assessor, the tax collector, and the county engineer. The county commission may also designate other appointing authorities. Appointing authorities shall supervise employees in their activities based on this section and the rules, policies, and procedures established by the county commission.

(h)(1) Hearings before the commission shall not be evidentiary hearings, or follow the formalities of a court of law, or require the rules of evidence be followed. All testimony shall be under oath. The county commission may subpoena witnesses and demand production of relevant documents. The county commission shall adopt its own rules regarding the guidelines to be used in its hearings and its rulings on hearings. The county commission may render decisions at the conclusion of a hearing and a decision shall be made within 10 calendar days of the hearing. All decisions shall be supported by factual findings based on the hearing, appropriate law, or the approved personnel rules, policies, and procedures. The decision of the county commission is binding on all parties. The decision of the county commission may uphold, reverse, or amend any prior action.

(2) The county commission shall hear all appeals from final personnel actions as requested by an affected and eligible employee. Eligible employees shall include classified employees and may include other employees as authorized by the county commission so long as the inclusion does not violate the intent of this section. The commission shall hear the appeals in accordance with guidelines established in the policies and procedures. Final action may be from administrative action; action based on the rules, policies, and procedures of the county; or disciplinary action. All appeals shall be made in good faith and timely filed. Willfully filing an appeal based on false facts or solely for the purpose of harassment may be the basis for disciplinary action.

(3) Only after all administrative remedies have been exhausted may an affected party take an appeal to the appropriate circuit court. The county commission shall maintain such records to sufficiently document its decision and actions in any matter.

(i) All classified employees shall be hired from a list of job applicants who meet the job related qualifications for the vacancy in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the county commission. Other employees shall be employed in accordance with procedures established by the county commission. The judge of probate, sheriff, tax assessor, tax collector, and the county coordinator may employ one employee each to serve as a principle assistant to that department. These persons are unclassified employees and need not be hired from a list of applicants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, they shall meet the job qualifications for the position to which they are to be appointed. The county commission may authorize additional unclassified employees, but it is the intent of this section to keep these assistants to a minimum. If two or more elected offices or departments are combined, the elected official shall have no more than one unclassified employee unless so approved by the county commission.

(j) (1) Any employee may participate in city, county, or state political activities to the same extent any citizen of Alabama may. This activity may include endorsing a candidate and contributing to campaigns. Employees may join local political organizations, and state and national political parties. Employees may also support issues of public welfare, circulate petitions, and make contributions.

(2) No employee or elected county official shall use his or her official position or authority to influence the vote or political action of any employee nor shall any county funds, property, or time be used for any political activity. No employee or elected county official shall solicit political contributions or solicit work in any capacity in a campaign from any person who is a subordinate employee.

(Act 94-466, p. 720, §§1-10.)