Bill > S1251

This bill aims to reform how sheriff civil process operations are managed, particularly concerning the employment status, compensation, and oversight of deputy sheriffs and employees involved in civil process duties. Key provisions include defining these individuals as state employees for purposes of retirement (Chapter 32), health insurance (Chapter 32A), collective bargaining (Chapter 150E), workers' compensation (Chapter 152), and liability protection (Chapters 258 and 268A), provided they work 20 or more hours per week. The bill establishes that all fees collected from civil process services will be considered revenue of the Commonwealth, to be deposited into dedicated accounts for the operation of the civil process office, with strict rules against personal commissions for sheriffs, deputies, or employees, and limits on total compensation. It also mandates a new civil process officers certification program for deputies performing these duties, requires detailed reporting and accounting of all fees and financial activities related to civil process, and clarifies that property and revenue generated by the civil process office belong to the state. Furthermore, the bill addresses injury compensation for deputies and employees, ensuring they receive their regular salary in addition to workers' compensation benefits if injured on duty, and outlines procedures for recovering costs from liable third parties. Finally, it sets a new effective date of January 1, 2016, for these reforms.