SECTIONS 77600-77606 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 77600-77606

77600. The Task Force on Trial Court Employees shall be established
pursuant to this article on or before January 1, 1998, and is
charged with recommending an appropriate system of employment and
governance for trial court employees.

77601. The task force shall be comprised of the following members:
(a) Four representatives of trial courts, appointed by the Chief
Justice, representing two urban, one suburban, and one rural courts.
(b) Four representatives of counties, appointed by the Governor
from a list of nominees submitted by the California State Association
of Counties, representing urban, suburban, and rural counties.
(c) Three representatives appointed by the Senate Rules Committee,
at least two of whom shall represent trial court employee
organizations.
(d) Three representatives appointed by the Speaker of the
Assembly, at least two of whom shall represent trial court employee
organizations.
(e) The Director of the Department of Personnel Administration or
his or her representative.
(f) The Chief Executive Officer of PERS or his or her
representative.
(g) The Director of Finance or his or her representative.
(h) The Chief Justice shall designate a justice of the court of
appeal as nonvoting chairperson.

77602. The Judicial Council shall provide staff support for the
task force and shall develop guidelines for procedures and practices
for the task force, which shall include input from and approval of
the task force. The Department of Personnel Administration, the
Department of Finance, and the Legislative Analyst shall provide
additional support, at the request of the Judicial Council. The
California State Association of Counties is encouraged to provide
additional staff support.

77603. The duties of the task force shall include, but not be
limited to, the following:
(a) Complete a survey of all trial courts regarding court employee
status, classification, and salary.
(b) Document the local retirement systems in which trial court
employees are members and the terms of the systems, and identify
future retirement options.
(c) Determine the costs associated with a change in retirement
benefits for court employees, including the cost to counties
resulting from such change, including, but not limited to, the impact
of such a change on pension obligation bonds, unfunded liabilities,
and changes in actuarial assumptions.
(d) Document existing contractual agreements and the terms and
conditions of employment, and document exclusive bargaining agents
representing court employees by court, county, and unit.
(e) Document existing constitutional, statutory, and other
provisions relating to classification, compensation, and benefits of
court employees.
(f) Identify functions relating to trial courts that are provided
by county employees.
(g) Examine and outline issues relating to the establishment of a
local personnel structure for trial court employees under (1) court
employment, (2) county employment, with the concurrence of the county
and the courts in the county (3) state employment with the
concurrence of the state and the courts in the county, or (4) other
options identified by the task force. The task force, in recommending
options for employee status, shall consider the complexity of the
interests of employees and various governmental entities. Their
recommendations shall, to the greatest extent possible, recognize the
need for achieving the concurrence of the affected parties.
In outlining these issues, consideration shall be given to
contractual obligations, minimizing disruption of the trial court
work force, and protecting the rights accrued by employees under
their current systems.
(h) Prepare a method for submitting the issue of employment status
to an advisory vote of trial court employees in each county.
(i) Recommend a personnel structure for trial court employees.

77604. (a) The task force shall be appointed by October 1, 1997.
(b) The task force shall meet and establish its operating
procedures on or before January 1, 1998.

77605. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact a personnel
system, that shall take effect on or before January 1, 2001, for
employment of trial court employees. The personnel system shall have
uniform statewide applicability and promote organizational and
operational flexibility in accordance with Section 77001.
(b) Nothing in this chapter is intended to prejudge or compel a
finding by the task force that court or county or state employment is
preferred.
(c) No provision of this article is intended to reduce judicial or
court employee salary or benefits.
(d) No provision of this chapter shall be deemed to affect the
current employment status of, or reduce benefits for, any peace
officer involved in court operations.

77606. The recommendations of the task force shall take effect only
upon subsequent action of the Legislature.