BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 2069 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 2069 (Solorio) As Amended May 24, 2012 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |74-0 |(April 26, |SENATE: |25-10|(August 9, | | | |2012) | | |2012) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- (vote not relevant) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |COMMITTEE VOTE: |8-2 |(August 23, 2012) |RECOMMENDATION: |concur | |Insurance | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Original Committee Reference: L.GOV. SUMMARY : Provides that dependents of a "Sherriff's Special Officer" (SSO) will receive the same health and scholarship benefits as the dependents of other peace officers in the event of the death or total disability of the SSO that occurs in the course of employment. The Senate amendments delete the Assembly version of this bill, and instead: 1)Add Sherriff's Special Officers of the County of Orange to the general statutes that grant most other peace officers certain workers' compensation benefits, including dependents' benefits for health care services and scholarships in the event that the peace officer is killed or totally disabled in the line of duty. EXISTING LAW: 1) Provides a range of special workers' compensation benefits for peace officers, including the death or total disability benefits which this bill is granting to SSOs. 2)Defines a range of peace officers, including the category in which SSOs are classified, and specifies the range of duties and authorities the various categories of peace officers have. AB 2069 Page 2 3)Fails to include the SSO's classification in the special workers' compensation benefit statute. AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY, this bill addressed the manner by which sanitation and sewer districts collect delinquent charges. FISCAL EFFECT : Undetermined. This bill was not referred to the Appropriations Committee. COMMENTS : According to the Orange County Sheriff's Department Web site, a Sheriff's Special Officer (SSO) is a law enforcement position that provides opportunity for diverse assignments related to public safety and security. Sheriff's Special Officers are aviation security specialists at John Wayne Airport, provide police services for the Orange County Transit Authority, work as civil bailiffs in the county courthouses, monitor inmates within Orange County's five correctional facilities, maintain Sheriff's Evidence and Property and provide security at county buildings and facilities. It appears that although Sheriff's Special Officers perform similar duties as other peace officers classified in penal code (and are classified as deputies like other peace officers in the county), they are not eligible for the scholarships and health benefits available to their dependents should they die or suffer total disability on the job. Because SSOs perform various duties that do not necessary fall within the peace officer positions defined in penal code, this bill would ensure that these peace officer benefits are extended to Sheriff's Special Officers who serve people of the County of Orange. According to proponents, SSOs are peace officers assigned to the more routine duties in county jail facilities, and fixed posts and patrol assignments at various county facilities, including John Wayne Airport, county justice centers, county properties and special district facilities. Currently, there are 320 SSOs in Orange County. They argue that while SSOs do not have peace officer status; the Sheriff's Department trains SSOs, classifies SSOs, and utilizes SSOs as peace officers. They are expected to perform the functions of peace officers under the cost savings guise of a "security" classification. That classification means SSO families would not be eligible for the same benefits as peace officer families if their loved one is killed in the line of duty. AB 2069 Page 3 Analysis Prepared by : Mark Rakich / INS. / (916) 319-2086 FN: 0005444