MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA AND
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SHERIFF'S MANAGERS ASSOCIATION

SECTION 1. PURPOSE

This Memorandum of Understanding is hereby entered into between the County of Santa Barbara, (hereinafter referred to as the "County"), and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Managers Association, (hereinafter referred to as the "Association"). It is the general purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding to promote the mutual interest of the County and its employees and to establish rates of pay, and certain other terms and conditions of employment.

SECTION 2. RECOGNITION

The County hereby recognizes the Association as the majority bargaining representative for the employees in the following representation units:

A. Unit 44/Law Enforcement Management

Chief Deputy Sheriff
Criminal Investigator, Chief
Sheriff's Commander
Sheriff’s Corrections Commander
Sheriff's Corrections Lieutenant
Sheriff's Lieutenant

B. Unit 45/Executive Law Enforcement

Undersheriff

The term "Employee" or "Employees" as used herein shall refer to individuals employed by the County in regular positions (excluding temporary, extra-help employees) as well as such employees in classifications that are added to the above representation units hereafter through the provisions of the County Employer-Employee Relations Resolution or applicable State law.

SECTION 3. COUNTY RIGHTS

A. The County retains, among other management rights, the exclusive right to determine the methods, means, and personnel by which County government operations are to be conducted, as well as to exercise complete control and discretion over its organization, operations, and technology of performing its work; to determine the mission function, and necessity of all or part of each of its constituent departments, boards, and commissions and take all necessary actions to carry out their mission, functions and necessity, or any part thereof, as well as set standards of service to the public.

B. It also retains the sole right to administer the Civil Service system, to classify or reclassify positions, add or delete positions or classes to or from the Salary Resolution; to establish standards for employment, promotion, and transfer of employees; to direct its employees, establish rules and regulations, take disciplinary action for proper cause, to establish work schedules and work assignments, and to relieve its employees from duty for lack of work or other legitimate reasons. The County retains the right to be the sole judge, subject to its Civil Service Rules and Procedures, of the qualification and competence of its officers and employees.

C. The County reserves the right to take whatever action may be necessary in an emergency situation; however, the Association shall be notified promptly of any such emergency action which affects matters within the scope of representation.

D. In the event any new practice, subject or matter arises during the term of this agreement and an action is proposed by the County, the Association shall be afforded all possible advance notice and shall have the right to meet and confer upon request. In the absence of agreement on such proposed action, the County reserves the right to take necessary action by management direction and the Association reserves the right to then take whatever lawful action deemed necessary.

SECTION 4. SALARIES

A. Effective April 24, 2006, salaries for classifications represented by the Association shall be increased by 2%.

B. Salaries for the following classifications shall receive salary equity adjustments according to the schedule shown below (in addition to the increase provided for in Paragraph A, above):

1. Effective April 24, 2006:

2. Effective April 23, 2007:

3. Effective April 21, 2008:

C. Effective April 21, 2008, the County shall provide funding in the amount of $305,000 to address inequities in Sheriff’s Lieutenant, Commander, Chief Deputy and Undersheriff classifications.

D. During the term of this agreement, but no sooner than October 2007, either party may request to reopen salary negotiations for the purpose of evaluating the position of salaries for classifications represented by the Sheriff’s Managers Association in relation to the relevant external market and consider the need for adjustment.

SECTION 5. MEDICAL AND DENTAL BENEFITS

A. For new employees, medical and dental coverage benefits under this Section shall be effective at the beginning of the month that immediately follows the employee’s first pay period of employment in a regular position. Part-time employees must be employed a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of full-time in order to be eligible for insurance benefits.

B. The County shall contribute up to $105.19 biweekly toward the cost of the biweekly premium for employee-only medical plan coverage. The County shall contribute up to $12.02 biweekly toward the cost of the biweekly premium for employee-only dental plan coverage. These contributions are based on full-time employment; part-time employees shall receive a prorated contribution based on their percentage of full-time employment. Insurance plan premiums that exceed the County’s biweekly contribution shall be paid by the employee through payroll deductions. During the term of this agreement, the County shall pay 100% of the least expensive HMO employee-only premiums.

C. Employees may select coverage from the following options:

Medical*

Dental

D. Employees may insure their eligible dependents (including registered domestic partners as defined below) under the medical and dental plan listed above in accordance with the rules and regulations applicable to obtaining said dependent coverage.

E. If two regular County employees are either (a) married to each other or (b) registered as domestic partners as specified below and are both eligible for a contribution from the County toward employee-only medical and dental coverage, they may consolidate the County contributions toward the premium cost for "employee plus dependents” coverage held by one of the employees. In this situation, one employee (referred to below as the “spouse or partner”) becomes a dependent on the other employee’s (referred to below as the “primary employee”) medial and dental coverage.

In order to be eligible under this provision, all of the following conditions must be met:

The amount of the consolidated contributions shall be that amount which would otherwise be contributed by the County toward the employee's and the spouse's or partner’s premiums for the respective medical and dental plans less the cost for participation by the spouse or partner in the Employee Assistance Program and the County’s healthcare advocacy program. The appropriate contributions shall be made by the respective departments employing each employee.

SECTION 6. HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS DURING MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Employees who are placed on a leave of absence resulting from a medical condition including injury, illness, pregnancy and childbirth shall receive the County contribution toward health plan coverage for a leave period up to 18 months. Insurance premiums exceeding the County’s contribution or for dependents shall be the responsibility of the employee during the leave period. If an employee has paid leave accruals in excess of eighteen (18) months at the start of the leave, the County will continue to make its contribution toward health coverage while paid leave is being used and until such time as the paid leave is exhausted.

SECTION 7. LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE

The County shall provide a Long Term Disability Insurance Plan for all employees. The waiting period for benefit eligibility will be 60 days. The benefit will equal sixty percent of pre-disability earnings in accordance with specific plan provisions, limitations and exclusions.

SECTION 8. TERM LIFE INSURANCE

Employees shall be provided with basic Group Term Life Insurance paid for by the County in accordance with the following schedule:

SECTION 9. FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT PLAN

A. All employees shall be eligible to participate in the County sponsored Flexible Spending Account Plan.

The Flexible Spending Account Plan will include the following salary reduction options:

1. Pre-Tax Health Insurance Premium Option--for employees and their dependents;
2. Pre-Tax Health Care Spending Account Option;
3. Pre-Tax Dependent Care Spending Account Option;
4. Pre-Tax Life Insurance Premium Option;
5. Pre-Tax Personal Accident Insurance Program.

These options are described in detail in the Flexible Spending Plan brochure and in the Legal Plan Document and supplemental materials. Compensation received in accordance with Section 10 (Benefit Allowance) may be used by employees to fund the options described above. All salary reduction amounts are included in base salaries for the purpose of computing retirement earnings and are subject to appropriate Internal Revenue Service regulations.

This plan may be amended in the future to revise the benefit options.

B. Benefits selected under this plan cannot be changed during the plan year except for a change in family status consistent with the benefit change. Enrollment in the plan shall be offered on an annual basis at the beginning of the plan year. New employees may enroll within the first thirty (30) days of employment. Continued operation of the Program shall be subject to County administrative procedures.