BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2069
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2069 (Solorio)
As Amended May 24, 2012
Majority vote
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|ASSEMBLY: | |(April 26, |SENATE: |25-10|(August 9, |
| | |2012) | | |2012) |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(vote not relevant)
Original Committee Reference: LGOV.
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, 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.
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 : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
AB 2069
Page 2
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.
Analysis Prepared by : Mark Rakich / INS. / (916) 319-2086
FN: 0004717
AB 2069
Page 3