SB 427

This bill creates a Legislative Human Resources Office (LHRO), a nonpartisan

legislative service agency, headed by a director. The Joint Committee on Legislative

Organization appoints the director and the director reports to JCLO. The director

is assigned to executive salary group six, and the director and all LHRO staff hold

positions in the unclassified service of the state civil service system. The LHRO must

perform all of the following duties:

1. Provide human resources services to the legislative branch, as directed by

JCLO.

2. Establish a formal complaint process to review and investigate allegations

of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, violence, or bullying by legislators,

legislative employees, and legislative service agency employees. The office shall

investigate all such allegations, unless the director designates another person or

entity to review and investigate any specific allegation.

3. At all times observe the confidential nature of records, requests, advice,

complaints, reviews, investigations, disciplinary actions, and other information in

its possession relating to human resources matters.

4. Certify to the Department of Administration the payroll for legislative

employees in the assembly and senate and for legislative service agency employees.

In addition, under the bill, the LHRO director must perform the following

duties:

1. Direct the operations of the LHRO staff.

2. Employ, train, and supervise the personnel assigned to the director.

3. Supervise all expenditures of the LHRO.

4. Manage reviews and investigations of the formal complaint process. Upon

completion of an investigation, report the findings to the appropriate legislative

leader or employee supervisor.

5. On a periodic basis, recommend to JCLO improvements to human resources

services and programs.