H 699

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
  SESSION 2025
 H  1
  HOUSE BILL 699
 Short Title:   Sheriff's Deputies/Dismissals.  (Public)
 Sponsors:      Representative A. Jones.
  For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
 Referred to:   Judiciary 1, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules,
  Calendar, and Operations of the House
  April 3, 2025
1A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT PROVIDING THAT A SHERIFF SHALL NOT DISCHARGE A DEPUTY SHERIFF
3     OR OTHER EMPLOYEE IN THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF FOR FAILING TO MAKE
4     A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION TO THE SHERIFF OR THE SHERIFF'S CAMPAIGN
5     COMMITTEE.
6 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
7SECTION 1. G.S. 153A-103 reads as rewritten:
8 "§ 153A-103. Number of employees in offices of sheriff and register of deeds.
9     Subject to the limitations set forth below, the board of commissioners may fix the number of
10 salaried employees in the offices of the sheriff and the register of deeds. In exercising the
11 authority granted by this section, the board of commissioners is subject to the following
12 limitations:
13(1)     Each sheriff and register of deeds elected by the people has the exclusive right
14to hire, discharge, and supervise the employees in his office. However, the his
15or her office; provided, however, a sheriff shall not discharge a deputy sheriff
16or other employee for failing to make a campaign contribution to the sheriff
17or the sheriff's campaign committee. The board of commissioners must
18approve the appointment by such an officer of a relative by blood or marriage
19of nearer kinship than first cousin or of a person who has been convicted of a
20crime involving moral turpitude.
21(2)     Each sheriff and register of deeds elected by the people is entitled to at least
22two deputies who shall be reasonably compensated by the county, provided
23that the register of deeds justifies to the Board of County Commissioners the
24necessity of the second deputy. Each deputy so appointed shall serve at the
25pleasure of the appointing officer.
26(3)     In addition to the number of salaried employees fixed by the board of
27commissioners, each sheriff is entitled to the number of school resource
28officers required to satisfy any agreements entered into under
29G.S. 162-26.5(b).
30     Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, approval of the board of
31 commissioners is not required for the reappointment or continued employment of a near relative
32 of a sheriff or register of deeds who was not related to the appointing officer at the time of initial
33 appointment."
34SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law.
  *H699-v-1*