17-33-11 - Political activities of employees. - Utah Statutes

17-33-11. Political activities of employees.
Except as otherwise provided by law or by rules and regulations promulgated under thischapter for federally aided programs, county employees may voluntarily participate in politicalactivity subject to the following provisions:
(1) No person shall be denied the opportunity to become an applicant for a position underthe merit system in any covered department by virtue of political opinion or affiliation.
(2) No person employed by the county under the merit system may be dismissed fromservice as a result of political opinion or affiliation.
(3) A county career service employee may voluntarily contribute funds to political groupsand become a candidate for public office.
(4) No county officer or employee, whether elected or appointed, may directly orindirectly coerce, command, or advise any officer or employee covered under the merit system topay, lend, or contribute part of his or her salary or compensation or anything else of value to anyparty, committee, organization, agency, or person for political purposes. No county officer oremployee, whether elected or appointed, may attempt to make any officer's or employee'spersonnel status dependent upon the employee's support or lack of support for any political party,committee, organization, agency, or person engaged in a political activity.
(5) No officer or employee may engage in any political activity during the hours ofemployment nor shall any person solicit political contributions from county employees duringhours of employment for political purposes, but nothing in this section shall preclude voluntarycontribution by a county employee to the party or candidate of the employee's choice.
(6) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to permit partisan politicalactivity of any county employee who is prevented or restricted from engaging in such politicalactivity by the provision of the federal Hatch Act.

Amended by Chapter 65, 1983 General Session