§12-5A-8. Juvenile probation officers - Supervision; employees of state; appointment and dismissal; director of probation services; certain employees subject to merit system procedures.

On or after October 1, 1999, each of the following shall occur:

(1) In each county having a population of 99,000 or less according to the 1990 federal decennial census, all juvenile probation officers and employees covered by this chapter, and any future employees occupying covered positions, shall be under the direct supervision of the presiding juvenile court judge.

(2) All juvenile probation officers in counties having a population of 99,000 or less according to the 1990 federal decennial census shall be state employees and shall be subject to the procedures of the state court system personnel system. All appointments of juvenile probation officers for authorized positions within a county shall be made by the presiding juvenile court judge, subject to the approval of the Administrative Director of Courts. Persons so appointed shall not be a part of the merit system in the state court system personnel system. Any dismissal of a juvenile probation officer, except those appointed as chief juvenile probation officers or directors of probation services, shall be for good cause and shall be subject to review by the Administrative Director of Courts. Juvenile probation officers who are subject to appointment and dismissal procedures pursuant to a local government merit system immediately prior to October 1 of the year of transition shall be subject to all Merit System procedures established by the Administrative Director of Courts for other merit employees in the state court system personnel system.

(3) If there is more than one juvenile probation officer in a county having a population of 99,000 or less according to the 1990 federal decennial census, the presiding juvenile court judge may appoint a chief juvenile probation officer or director of probation services who shall be responsible for the administration of the juvenile probation services under the direction of the juvenile court. If there is only one juvenile probation officer in a county, the presiding juvenile court judge may designate that juvenile probation officer as the chief juvenile probation officer or director of probation services. The chief juvenile probation officer or director of probation services shall serve in that position at the pleasure of the appointing juvenile court judge. Any person appointed as chief juvenile probation officer or director of probation services who previously served as a juvenile probation officer within the circuit or district, may return to juvenile probation officer status and may be appointed to a vacant juvenile probation officer position within the circuit or district. If there is no vacancy in the circuit or district, the position of the individual shall be terminated without prejudice.

(4) Any employee, on the effective date for the transition of a county having a population of 99,000 or less according to the 1990 federal decennial census, or hereafter appointed to a position in juvenile probation services, other than chief juvenile probation officers, directors of probation services, or juvenile probation officers, covered by this chapter and any future employee occupying those positions, shall be subject to the same merit system procedures of employment as apply to merit employees in the state court system personnel system.

(Act 98-392, p. 782, §9.)