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CHARTER OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
ANNOTATED EDITION
Includes Amendments Ratified by the Voters Through November 8, 1994
| PROPOSED BY THE BOARD OF
FREEHOLDERS | SEPTEMBER 24, 1912 |
| RATIFIED BY THE VOTERS OF THE
COUNTY | NOVEMBER 5, 1912 |
| FILED WITH THE SECRETARY OF
STATE | JANUARY 29, 1913 |
| IN EFFECT | JUNE 2, 1913 |
GLORIA MOLINA First
District | ZEV YAROSLAVSKY Third
District |
| |
YVONNE BRATHWAITE BURKE Second
District | DON KNABE Fourth
District |
| |
MICHAEL D.
ANTONOVICH Fifth District |
Reprinted - January 1, 1996
Published by the County of Los Angeles
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Charter Amendments
Table of Cases Cited
CHARTERArticle
TABLE OF CHARTER AMENDMENTS
Amendment to Section 4
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 2, 1952, ratified
at general election November 4, 1952, approved by Legislature January 8,
1953, filed with Secretary of State January 9, 1953, Stats. 1953. Chap.
5, P. 3781.
Amendment to Section 6
Proposed by Board of Supervisors February 28, 1984, ratified
at special election June 5, 1984, filed with Secretary of State August 9,
1984, and was given Charter Chapter No. 20.
Repeal of Section 11(2)
Proposed by Board of Supervisors February 28, 1984, ratified
at special election June 5, 1984, filed with Secretary of State August 9,
1984, and was given Charter Chapter No. 20.
Addition of Section 11(3)
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 19, 1980, ratified at
special election November 4, 1980.
Amendment to Section 11(4)
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 30, 1966, ratified at
general election November 8, 1966, approved by Legislature January 12,
1967, filed with Secretary of State January 13, 1967. Stats. 1967, Chap.
6 of Resolutions.
Addition of Section 11(7)
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 19, 1980, ratified at
special election November 4, 1980, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State June 8, 1981, published Stats. 1981, Charter Chapter 19.
Amendment to Section 13
Proposed by Board of Supervisors February 28, 1984, ratified
at special election June 5, 1984, filed with Secretary of State August 9,
1984, and was given Charter Chapter No. 20.
Amendment to Section 14
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 20 and 24, 1934,
ratified at special election November 6, 1934, approved by Legislature
January 26, 1935, filed with Secretary of State January 26, 1935. Stats.
1935, P. 2440.
Amendment to Section 14
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 22, 1942, ratified
at general election November 3, 1942, approved by Legislature January 26,
1943, filed with Secretary of State January 28, 1943. Stats. 1943, P.
3211.
Amendment to Section 14, Last Sentence
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 28, 1956, ratified at
general election November 6, 1956, approved by Legislature March 12,
1956, filed with Secretary of State March 19, 1957. Stats. 1957, Chap.
125, P. 4462.
Amendment to Section 14
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 30, 1966, ratified at
general election November 8, 1966, approved by Legislature January 12,
1967, filed with Secretary of State January 13, 1967. Stats. 1967, Chap.
6 of Resolutions.
Amendment to Section 17
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 25, 1922, ratified
at general election November 7, 1922, approved by Legislature May 15,
1923, filed with Secretary of State May 18, 1923. Stats. 1923, P.
1659.
Repeal of Section 17
Repeal of Section 18
Repeal of Section 19
Repeal of Section 20
Above four proposed by Board of Supervisors February 28,
1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984, filed with Secretary of
State August 9, 1984, and was given Charter Chapter No. 20.
Amendment to Section 22
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 30, 1966, ratified at
general election November 8, 1966, approved by Legislature January 12,
1967, filed with Secretary of State January 13, 1967, Stats. 1967, Chap.
6 of Resolutions.
Addition of Sections 221/4, 221/2
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 30, 1966, ratified at
general election November 8, 1966, approved by Legislature January 12,
1967, filed with Secretary of State January 13, 1967. Stats. 1967, Chap.
6 of Resolutions.
Addition of Section 223/4
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 30, 1966, ratified at
general election November 8, 1966, approved by Legislature January 12,
1967, filed with Secretary of State January 13, 1967. Stats. 1967, Chap.
6 of Resolutions.
Amendment to Section 223/4
Proposed by Board of Supervisors July 23, 1974, ratified at
general election November 5, 1974, filed with Secretary of State December
11, 1974. Approved by Legislature September 12, 1975, SCR 69, Chap. 135,
Stats. 1975.
Addition of Section 241/3
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 20 and 24, 1934,
ratified at special election November 6, 1934, approved by Legislature
January 26, 1935, filed with Secretary of State January 26, 1935. Stats.
1935, P. 2440.
Repeal of Section 241/3, Subsection (b)
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 22, 1944, ratified at
general election November 7, 1944, approved by Legislature January 16,
1945, filed with Secretary of State January 17, 1945. Stats. 1945, P.
2921.
Addition of Section 242/3
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 31, 1954, ratified at
general election November 2, 1954, approved by Legislature January 10,
1955, filed with Secretary of State January 11, 1955, Stats. 1955, Chap.
20, P. 3788.
Amendment to Section 25
Repeal of Section 28
Repeal of Section 29
Above three proposed by Board of Supervisors February 28,
1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984, filed with Secretary of
State August 9, 1984, and was given Charter Chapter No. 20.
Amendment to Section 30
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 7, 1948, ratified
at general election November 2, 1948, approved by Legislature January 6,
1949, filed with Secretary of State January 7, 1949. Stats. 1949, Chap.
9, P. 2880.
Amendment to Section 30
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 15, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Amendment to Section 31
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 7, 1948, ratified
at general election November 2, 1948, approved by Legislature January 6,
1949, filed with Secretary of State January 7, 1949. Stats. 1949, Chap.
9, P. 2882.
Amendment to Section 31
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 30, 1966, ratified at
general election November 8, 1966, approved by Legislature January 12,
1967, filed with Secretary of State January 13, 1967. Stats. 1967, Chap.
6 of Resolutions.
Amendment to Section 31
Proposed by Board of Supervisors July 23, 1974, ratified at
general election November 5, 1974, filed with Secretary of State December
11, 1974. Approved by Legislature September 12, 1975, SCR 69, Chap. 135,
Stats. 1975.
Amendment to Section 31
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 15, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Amendment to Section 32
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 15, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Amendment to Section 33
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 7, 1948, ratified
at general election November 2, 1948, approved by Legislature January 6,
1949, filed with Secretary of State January 7, 1949. Stats. 1949, Chap.
9, P. 2882.
Amendment to Section 33
Proposed by Board of Supervisors March 25, 1976, ratified at
primary election June 8, 1976, filed with Secretary of State July 6,
1976, published Stats. 1976, Charter Chapter No. 13, P. 32-33.
Amendment to Section 33(d)
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 14, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Amendment to Section 33(e)
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 14, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Addition of Section 33(h)
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 15, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Addition of Section 33.5(a)
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 14, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Repeal of Section 33.7
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 15, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Addition of Section 33.8
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 15, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Amendment to Section 34, Subsection 9
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 20, 1946, ratified at
general election November 5, 1946, approved by Legislature January 8,
1947, filed with Secretary of State January 10, 1947. Stats. 1947, P.
3361.
Amendment to Section 34, Subsection 10
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 17, 1940, ratified
at general election November 5, 1940, approved by Legislature January 9,
1941, filed with Secretary of State January 14, 1941. Stats. 1941, P.
3235.
Addition of Section 34, paragraphs 10.1 and 10.2
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 2, 1958, ratified
at general election November 4, 1958, approved by Legislature January 12,
1959, filed with Secretary of State January 14, 1959. Stats. 1959, Chap.
7, P. 5344.
Amendment to Section 34, Subsection 11
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 7, 1948, ratified
at general election November 2, 1948, approved by Legislature January 6,
1949, filed with Secretary of State January 7, 1949. Stats. 1949, Chap.
9, P. 2880.
Amendment to Section 34, Subsection 13
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 27, 1938, ratified
at general election November 8, 1938, approved by Legislature March 7,
1939, filed with Secretary of State March 7, 1939. Stats. 1939, P. 3145.
Amendment to Section 34, Paragraph 13
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 31, 1954, ratified at
general election November 2, 1954, approved by Legislature January 10,
1955, filed with Secretary of State January 11, 1955. Stats. 1955, Chap.
20, P. 3788.
Amendment to Section 34, Subsection 15
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 7, 1948, ratified
at general election November 2, 1948, approved by Legislature January 6,
1949, filed with Secretary of State January 7, 1949. Stats. 1949, Chap.
9, P. 2880.
Addition of Section 34, Subsection 17
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 20, 1946, ratified at
general election November 5, 1946, approved by Legislature January 8,
1947, filed with Secretary of State January 10, 1947. Stats. 1947, P.
3361.
Amendment to Section 34, Paragraph 17
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 31, 1954, ratified at
general election November 2, 1954, approved by Legislature January 10,
1955, filed with Secretary of State January 11, 1955. Stats. 1955, Chap.
20, P. 3788.
Amendment to Section 34
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 24, 1972, ratified at
general election November 7, 1972, approved by Legislature November 28,
1972, filed with Secretary of State December 1, 1972. Stats. 1972, Chap.
166, of Resolutions of 1972.
Amendment to Section 34
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 15, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Amendment to Section 35
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 15, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Amendment to Section 36
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 30, 1966, ratified at
general election November 8, 1966, approved by Legislature January 12,
1967, filed with Secretary of State January 13, 1967. Stats. 1967, Chap.
6 of Resolutions.
Amendment to Section 36
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 15, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Addition of Section 361/2
Proposed by Board of Supervisors June 25, 1928, ratified at
special election August 29, 1928, approved by Legislature January 10,
1929, filed with Secretary of State January 15, 1929. Stats. 1929, P.
1985.
Amendment to Section 361/2
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 31, 1954, ratified at
general election November 2, 1954, approved by Legislature January 10,
1955, filed with Secretary of State January 11, 1955. Stats. 1955, Chap.
20, P. 3788.
Repeal of Section 37
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 15, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Repeal of Section 38
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 15, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Repeal of Section 39
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 15, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Repeal of Section 40
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 15, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Amendment to Section 41
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 2, 1958, ratified
at general election November 4, 1958, approved by Legislature January 12,
1959, filed with Secretary of State January 14, 1959. Stats. 1959, Chap.
7, P. 5344.
Repeal of Section 42
Repeal of Section 43
Above two proposed by Board of Supervisors February 28, 1984,
ratified at special election June 5, 1984, filed with Secretary of State
August 9, 1984, and was given Charter Chapter No. 23.
Addition of Section 44.5
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 2, 1958, ratified
at general election November 4, 1958, approved by Legislature January 12,
1959, filed with Secretary of State January 14, 1959. Stats. 1959, Chap.
7, P. 5344.
Addition of Section 44.7
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 24, 1972, ratified at
general election November 7, 1972, approved by Legislature November 28,
1972, filed with Secretary of State December 1, 1972. Stats. 1972, Chap.
166, of Resolution of 1972.
Amendment to Section 44.7
Proposed by Board of Supervisors June 27, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Amendment to Section 47
Proposed by Board of Supervisors February 7, 1978, ratified
at primary election June 6, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary of
State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No. 28.
Addition of Section 47.5
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 3, 1981, ratified at
general election November 2, 1982, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 13, 1982, published Stats. 1982, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Amendment to Section 48
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 2, 1958, ratified
at general election November 4, 1958, approved by Legislature January 12,
1959, filed with Secretary of State January 14, 1959. Stats. 1959, Chap.
7, P. 5344.
Amendment to Section 50
Proposed by Board of Supervisors April 25, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
Amendment to Section 52
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 2, 1994, ratified at
general election November 8, 1994, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State February 24, 1995, published Stats. 1995, Charter Chap. 8.
Amendment to Section 54
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 7, 1948, ratified
at general election November 2, 1948, approved by Legislature January 6,
1949, filed with Secretary of State January 7, 1949. Stats. 1949, Chap.
9, P. 2880.
Addition of Section 561/4
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 2, 1958, ratified
at general election November 4, 1958, approved by Legislature January 12,
1959, filed with Secretary of State January 14, 1959. Stats. 1959, Chap.
7, P. 5344.
Addition of Section 561/2
Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 20 and 24, 1934,
ratified at special election November 6, 1934, approved by Legislature
January 26, 1935, filed with Secretary of State January 26, 1935. Stats.
1935, P. 2440.
Addition of Section 563/4
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 31, 1954, ratified at
general election November 2, 1954, approved by Legislature January 10,
1955, filed with Secretary of State January 11, 1955. Stats. 1955, Chap.
20, P. 3788.
Addition of Section 564/5
Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 8, 1978, ratified at
general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary
of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No.
29.
TABLE OF CASES CITED
Anderson v. Lewis, 29 Cal. App. 24, 154 P. 287 (1915)
Avan v. Municipal Court, 62 Cal. (2d) 630, 43 Cal. Rptr. 835,
401 P. (2d) 227 (1965)
Avery v. Midland County, 390 U.S. 474, 88 S. Ct. 1114, 20
L.Ed. (2d) 45 (1968)
Bank of America v. Board of Supervisors, 93 Cal. App. (2d) 75,
208 P. (2d) 772 (1949)
Board of Education v. Watson, 63 Cal. (2d) 829, 49 Cal. Rptr.
481, 409 P. (2d) 481 (1966)
Board of Law Library Trustees v. Lowery, 67 Cal. App. (2d)
480, 154 P. (2d) 719 (1945)
Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles County v. Simpson as District
Attorney, 36 Cal. (2d) 671, 227 P. (2d) 14 (1951)
Brown v. Francisco, 123 Cal. App. (2d) 413, 266 P. (2d) 951
(1954)
Bybee v. Richards, 134 Cal. App. 467, 25 P. (2d) 472 (1933)
Calderon v. City of Los Angeles, 4 Cal. 3d 251, 93 Cal. Rptr.
361, 481 P. (2d) 489 (1971)
Chester v. Hall, 55 Cal. App. 611, 204 P. 237 (1921)
Cline v. Lewis, 175 Cal. 315, 165 P. 915 (1917)
County Sanitation Dist. No. 2 v. Los Angeles County Employees'
Assn. , 38 Cal. 3d 564, 214 Cal. Rptr. 424 (1985)
Cronin v. Civil Serv. Comm. , 71 Cal. App. 633, 236 P. 339
(1925)
Elfbrandt v. Russell, 384 U.S. 11, 86 S. Ct. 1283, 16 L.Ed.
(2d) 321 (1966)
Gibson v. Civil Serv. Comm., 27 Cal. App. 396, 150 P. 78
(1915)
Glasser v. Municipal Court, 27 Cal. App. (2d) 455, 81 P. (2d)
260 (1938)
Globe v. County of Los Angeles, 163 Cal. App. (2d) 595, 329 P.
(2d) 971 (1958)
Ham v. County of Los Angeles, 46 Cal. App. 148, 189 P. 462
(1920)
Hansen v. Carr, 73 Cal. App. 511, 238 P. 1048 (1925)
Hedlund v. Davis, 47 Cal. (2d) 75, 301 P. (2d) 843 (1956)
Hirschman v. Los Angeles County, 39 Cal. (2d) 698, 249 P. (2d)
287 (1952)
Hofberg v. Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission, 258
Cal. App. (2d) 433, 65 Cal. Rptr. 759 (1968)
Holland v. Byram, 28 Cal. (2d) 567, 170 P. (2d) 938 (1946)
Hunt v. Superior Court, 178 Cal. 470, 173 P. 1097 (1918)
Keith v. Hammel, 29 Cal. App. 131, 154 P. 871 (1915)
Kerr v. Russell, 209 Cal. 36, 285 P. 311 (1930)
Keyishian v. Board of Regents, 385 U.S. 589, 87 S. Ct. 675, 17
L.Ed. (2d) 629 (1967)
Kirkpatrick v. Preisler, 394 U.S. 526, 89 S. Ct. 1225, 22
L.Ed. (2d) 519 (1969)
Lesem v. Getty, 23 Cal. App. (2d) 57, 72 P. (2d) 183 (1937)
Los Angeles County Federation of Labor v. County of Los
Angeles, 160 Cal. App. 3d 905, 207 Cal. Rptr. 1 (1985)
Los Angeles, County of v. Cline, 37 Cal. App. 607, 174 P. 73
(1918)
Los Angeles, County of v. Hammel, 26 Cal. App. 580, 147 P. 983
(1915)
Mapes v. Williams, 2 Cal. (2d) 177, 25 P. (2d) 896, 39 P. (2d)
421 (1934)
Markowitz v. Carpenter, 94 Cal. App. (2d) 667, 211 P. (2d) 617
(1949)
Marks v. Superior Court, 245 Cal. App. (2d) 779, 54 Cal. Rptr.
169 (1966)
McKesson v. Lowery, 51 Cal. (2d) 660, 335 P. (2d) 662
(1959)
McMillin, Estate of v. Robinson, 46 Cal. (2d) 121, 292 P. (2d)
881 (1956)
Miller, Estate of, 5 Cal. (2d) 588, 55 P. (2d) 491 (1936)
Morton v. Richards, 134 Cal. App. 665, 26 P. (2d) 320
(1933)
Murphy, Estate of, 171 Cal. 697, 154 P. 839 (1916)
Nelson v. Los Angeles County, 362 U.S. 1, 80 S. Ct. 527, 4
L.Ed. (2d) 494 (1960)
Nielson v. Richards, 69 Cal. App. 533, 232 P. 480 (1924)
Noel v. Lewis, 35 Cal. App. 658, 170 P. 857 (1917)
Ogle v. Eckel, 49 Cal. App. (2d) 599, 122 P. (2d) 67 (1942)
Ostly v. Saper, 147 Cal. App. (2d) 671, 305 P. (2d) 946
(1957)
Pasadena, City of v. County of Los Angeles, 235 Cal. App. (2d)
153, 45 Cal. Rptr. 94 (1965)
People v. McAleer, 33 Cal. App. 135, 164 P. 425 (1917)
People v. Ziady, 8 Cal. (2d) 149, 64 P. (2d) 425 (1937)
Placer County Employees' Ass'n. v. Board of Supervisors, 233
Cal. App. (2d) 555, 43 Cal. Rptr. 782 (1965)
Pridham v. Lewis, 30 Cal. App. 395, 158 P. 333 (1916)
Pulcifer v. County of Alameda, 29 Cal. (2d) 258 175 P. (2d) 1
(1946)
Reuter v. Board of Supervisors, 220 Cal. 314, 30 P. (2d)
417 (1934)
Sacramento, County of v. Chambers, 33 Cal. App. 142, 164 P.
613 (1917)
Sacramento, City of v. Simmons, 66 Cal. App. 18, 225 P. 36
(1924)
Sausalito, City of v. County of Marin, 12 Cal. App. 3d 550, 90
Cal. Rptr. 843 (1970)
Sawyer v. Berger, 34 Cal. App. 567, 168 P. 371 (1917)
Schnell, Estate of, 82 Cal. App. (2d) 170, 185 P. (2d) 856
(1947)
Seidel v. Waring, 36 Cal. (2d) 149, 222 P. (2d) 669 (1950)
Shay v. Roth, 64 Cal. App. 314, 221 P. 967 (1923)
Smith v. Evans, 42 Cal. 3 154 (1974)
South San Francisco, City of v. Berry, 120 Cal. App. (2d) 252,
260 P. (2d) 1045 (1953)
Steiner v. Darby, 88 Cal. App. (2d) 481, 199 P. (2d) 429
(1948); 338 U.S. 327, 94 L.Ed. 144, 70 S. Ct. 161 (1949)
Tehama, County of v. Winter, 56 Cal. App. 341, 205 P. 97
(1922)
Thomas v. Pridham, 171 Cal. 98, 153 P. 933 (1915)
Union Bank and Trust Co. v. L.A. County, 11 Cal. (2d) 675, 81
P. (2d) 919 (1938)
Walker v. County of Los Angeles, 55 Cal. (2d) 626, 12 Cal.
Rptr. 671, 361 P. (2d) 247 (1961)
Watson v. Los Altos School District, 149 Cal. App. (2d) 768,
308 P. (2d) 872 (1957)
Whelan v. Bailey, 1 Cal. App. (2d) 334, 36 P. (2d) 709
(1934)
Wilkinson v. Lund, 102 Cal. App. 767, 283 P. 385 (1929)
Williams v. County of Los Angeles, L.A. Superior Ct., No.
809416 (1963)
Wilson v. Board of Retirement, 156 Cal. App. (2d) 195, 319 P.
(2d) 426 (1957)
Woolwine v. Superior Court, 182 Cal. 388, 188 P. 569 (1920)
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
CHARTER
We, the people of the County
of Los Angeles, do ordain and establish for its government this Charter.
ARTICLE I.
Name and Rights of the County
Section
1. The County of Los Angeles, as it now exists, is a body corporate
and
politic{1}, and as such has all the
powers specified by the constitution and laws of the State
of California,{2} this and by this Charter,{3} and such other powers as are
necessarily implied.
Section 2.
The powers mentioned in the preceding Section can be exercised only by a
Board of Supervisors, {4}or by agents and
officers acting under their authority or by authority of law of this
Charter.
Section 3.
The corporate name shall be "County of Los Angeles," which must be thus
designated in all actions and proceedings touching its corporate rights,
properties and duties. Its boundaries and county seat shall remain the
same as they now are, until otherwise changed by law.
ARTICLE II.
Board of Supervisors
Section 4.
The County of Los Angeles shall have a Board of Supervisors consisting of
five members, each of whom must be an elector of the district which he
represents, must reside therein during his incumbency, must have been
such an elector for at least one-year immediately preceding his
election,,{5} and shall be elected by such
district. Their terms of office shall be four years, and each shall hold
until his successor is elected and qualified. No person while a member
of the Board of Supervisors shall receive any compensation, in addition
to that provided for by this Section, for services rendered to any public
or governmental entity. They shall each receive as compensation for
their services a salary, payable monthly from the County Treasury, which
shall be the same as that now or hereafter prescribed by law for a judge
of the Superior Court in and for the County of Los Angeles, except that
retirement benefits shall be those now or hereafter provided by law for
officers and employees of the County of Los
Angeles.{6} They shall devote all their time during
business hours to the faithful service of the public.
 Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Charter, this amendment shall be operative as to
incumbent members of said Board during their respective terms.{7} If any provision of this amendment
is held inoperative as to incumbent members during their current terms,
then no change made by this amendment shall be operative as to incumbent
members during their current terms, but in all other respects this
amendment shall be operative to the extent legally possible.{8}
Section 5.
The County is hereby divided into five supervisorial districts, the
boundaries of which shall be and remain as they are now or until
otherwise changed as provided in this Charter.
Section 6.
At each general election at which the Governor is to be elected, and
every four years thereafter, supervisors shall be elected from the First
and Third Supervisorial districts, whose terms shall be four years,
beginning at noon the first Monday in December following their election,
and ending at noon on the first Monday in December, four years
thereafter; provided that each shall hold office until his successor is
elected and qualified.
 At each general election at
which the office of President appears on the ballot, and every four years
thereafter, supervisors shall be elected from the Second, Fourth and
Fifth districts, whose terms shall be four years, beginning at noon on
the first Monday in December following their election, and ending at noon
on the first Monday in December, four years thereafter; provided that
each shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified.{8A}
Section 7.
The Board of Supervisors may, by a two-thirds' vote of its members,
change the boundaries of any supervisorial district. No such boundaries
shall ever be so changed as to affect the incumbency in office of any
supervisor. Any change in the boundaries of any supervisorial district
must be made within one-year after a general
election.{9}
Section 8.
Whenever a vacancy occurs in the Board of Supervisors the Governor shall
fill such vacancy, and the appointee shall hold office until the election
and qualification of his successor. In such case, a Supervisor shall be
elected at the next general election, to fill the vacancy for the
unexpired term, unless such term expires on the first Monday in December
succeeding said election.
Section 9.
The Board of Supervisors shall elect a Chairman, who shall preside at all
meetings. In case of his absence or inability to act, the members
present must, by an order entered of record, select one of their number
to act as Chairman pro tem. Any member of the Board may administer
oaths, when necessary in the performance of his official duties. A
majority of the members shall constitute a quorum, and no act of the
Board shall be valid or binding unless a majority of the members concur.
ARTICLE III.
General Powers of the Board of
Supervisors{10}
Section
10. The Board of Supervisors shall have all the jurisdiction and
power which are now or which may hereafter be granted by the
constitution{11} and laws of the State of
California or by this Charter.
Section
11. It shall be the duty of the Board of Supervisors: (1) To
appoint all County officers other than elective officers, and all
officers, assistants, deputies, clerks,
attaches{12} and employees whose appointment
is not provided for by this Charter.{13}
Except in the cases of
appointees to the unclassified service, all appointments by the Board
shall be from the eligible civil service list. The Board shall provide,
by ordinance, {14} for the compensation{15} of elective officers and of
its appointees, {16} unless such
compensation is otherwise fixed by this Charter.
{17}
(2)(Repealed.
{18}
(3) To provide, by ordinance, {19} for the number of
assistants, deputies, clerks,{20}
attaches{21} and other persons to be
employed from time to time in the several offices and institutions of the
County, and for their compensation and the times at which they shall be
appointed.
(4) To provide, by ordinance,
for the creation of offices{22} other
than those required by the constitution and laws of the State, and for
the appointment of persons to fill the same, and to fix their
compensation. The Board of Supervisors may also, by ordinance,
consolidate or separate offices provided for in this Charter or by law. {23}
(5) To require, if deemed
expedient, any county or township officer, or employee, before or after
entering upon the duties of his office, or service, to give bond for the
faithful performance thereof, in such penal sums as may be fixed by the
Board.
(6) To provide, publish and
enforce, a complete code of rules, not inconsistent with general laws{24} or this Charter, prescribing in
detail the duties, and the systems of office and institutional
management, accounts and reports for each of the offices, institutions
and departments of the County.
(7) No ordinance controlling
rents of residential rental units shall be enacted to control the rent of
any rental unit located in a structure for which a certificate of
occupancy was issued after November 1, 1980. This Section shall be in
effect until November 1, 2000 upon which date it shall expire.{24A}
ARTICLE IV.
County Officers Other Than Supervisors
Section
12. The elective County officers other than members of the Board of
Supervisors shall be: Sheriff,
{25} District Attorney{26}
and Assessor.{27}
Section
13.
At each general election at which the office of President
appears on the ballot, and every four years thereafter, a District
Attorney shall be elected, whose term shall be four years, beginning at
noon on the first Monday in December following his election, and ending
at noon on the first Monday in December, four years thereafter.
 At each general election at
which the Governor is to be elected, and every four years thereafter, a
Sheriff and Assessor shall be elected, whose
terms shall be four years, beginning at noon on the first Monday in
December following their election, and ending at noon on the first Monday
in December four years thereafter. All elective county officers shall
hold office until their successors are elected and qualified.{28}
Section
14. The appointive County officers shall
be:
{29}
 Such other officers as may
hereafter be provided by law shall also be appointive.
{54}
 The treasurer shall be
ex-officio Tax Collector and License Collector.
{55}
 The Coroner shall be a
physician who is a certified pathologist.{56}
Section
15. All fees collected by any county officer, board or commissioner
shall be paid into the County Treasury on the first Monday of each
calendar month, together with a detailed statement of the same in
writing, a duplicate copy of which shall be filed with the Auditor at the
same
time.{57}
Section
16. Whenever a vacancy occurs in an elective County office other
than a member of the Board of Supervisors, the Board shall fill such
vacancy, and the appointee shall hold office until the election and
qualification of his successor. In such case, there shall be elected at
the next general election an officer to fill such vacancy for the
unexpired term, unless such term expires on the first Monday in December
succeeding said
election.{58}
ARTICLE V
Township Officers
Section
17.
Repealed.{60}
Section
18.
Repealed.{61}
Section
19.
Repealed.{62}
Section
20.
Repealed.{63}
ARTICLE VI.
Duties of Officers
Section
21. The
County Counsel{66} shall
represent and advise the Board of
Supervisors{67} and all County, township and school
district officers, in all matters and questions of law pertaining to
their duties, and shall have exclusive charge and control of all civil actions{68} and proceedings{69} in which the County or any
officer thereof, is concerned{70} or is a
party. He shall also act as attorney for the Public
Administrator{71} in the matter of all estates in which
such officer is executor, administrator with the will annexed, or administrator, {72} and the County Counsel
shall, in every such matter, collect the attorney's fees{73} allowed therein by law and pay the
same into the County Treasury.
Section
22. The Director of Hospitals shall, under the direction of the
Board of Supervisors, exercise general supervision over and enforce rules
and regulations for the conduct and government of the County's hospitals,
and of such other health, medical and charitable institutions and
activities of the County as the Board of Supervisors may designate by
ordinance. He shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by
the Board of Supervisors or by
law. {74}
Section
221/4. The Director of Public Social Services, under the direction
of the Board of Supervisors, shall administer those activities and
functions involved in providing aid or social services or both, within
the limits authorized by law or ordinance, to persons who, because of
their economic circumstances or social conditions, are in need thereof
and may benefit thereby. He shall perform such other duties as may be
prescribed by the Board of Supervisors or by
law.{75}
Section
221/2. The Director of Adoptions shall, under the direction of the
Board of Supervisors, administer those activities and functions involved
in providing assistance or services or both in connection with the
adoption of persons, and all matters related thereto. He shall perform
such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Supervisors or by
law.{76}
Section
223/4.
The Director of Personnel shall perform duties as
provided in Article IX hereof.
To enable a consolidation of
personnel functions of the County, other than personnel functions which
are the responsibility of other appointing authorities pursuant to the
provisions of this Charter, the Board of Supervisors may prescribe that
the Director of Personnel exercise general supervision over and enforce
all or any portion of the rules and procedures of the County's personnel
system including, but not limited thereto, the making of reports and
recommendations to the Board of Supervisors with respect to the
compensation of County employees and the administration of rules and
procedures to be followed in the County's employer-employee
relationships. All duties performed by the Director of Personnel, other
than those performed pursuant to Article IX hereof, shall be under the
direction of the Board of Supervisors.
{77}
Section
23.
Upon request by the defendant or upon order of the court,
the Public Defender shall defend, without expense to them, all persons
who are not financially able to employ counsel and who are charged, in
the Superior Court, with the commission of any contempt, misdemeanor,
felony or other offense. He shall also, upon request, give counsel and
advice to such person in and about any charge against them upon which he
is conducting the defense, and he shall prosecute all appeals to a higher
court or courts, of any person who has been convicted upon any such
charge, where, in his opinion, such appeal will, or might reasonably be
expected to, result in a reversal or modification of the judgment of conviction. {78}
He shall also, upon request,
prosecute actions for the collection of wages and of other demands of
persons who are not financially able to employ counsel, in cases in which
the sum involved does not exceed $100, and in which, in the judgment of
the Public Defender, the claims urged are valid and enforceable in the
courts.
He shall also, upon request,
defend such persons in all civil litigation in which, in his judgment,
they are being persecuted or unjustly harassed.
The costs in all actions in
which the Public Defender shall appear under this Section, whether for
plaintiffs or for defendants, shall be paid from the County Treasury, at
the times and in the manner required by law, or by rules of the court,
and under a system of demand, audit and payment, which shall be
prescribed by the Board of Supervisors. It shall be the duty of the
Public Defender, in all such litigation, to procure, if possible, in
addition to general judgments in favor of the persons whom he shall
represent therein, judgments for costs and attorney's fees, where
permissible, against the opponents of such persons, and collect and pay
the same into the County Treasury.
Section
24. Subject to rules and regulations which shall be adopted by the
Board of Supervisors, by ordinance, the Purchasing Agent shall be the
buyer of furniture, fixtures, tools, supplies, materials or other
articles of personal property for the County and for County, townships
and all other officers.
Section
241/3. (a) There is hereby established a department of the County
to be known and designated as Department of County Forester and Fire
Warden, which shall be under the management and control of the County
Forester and Fire Warden who shall be appointed by the Board of
Supervisors subject to the provisions of Article IX hereof, and shall be
furnished such deputies, assistants, clerks, and other employees as may
be provided by ordinance, provided that upon the taking effect of this
Section the County Forester and the County Fire Warden heretofore
existing shall become the County Forester and Fire Warden of said
Department of County Forester and Fire Warden hereby created without
further civil service examination, and each deputy, assistant, clerk, and
other employee of said existing department shall be likewise transferred
to a position of like class in the Department of County Forester and Fire
Warden hereby created.
(b) Repealed.79
(c) It shall be the duty of
the County Forester and Fire Warden and all deputy Forester and Fire
Wardens to enforce and observe all orders and ordinances of the Board of
Supervisors pertaining to forest, brush, and other fires, and all
statutes relating to prevention or extinguishment of forest, brush or
grass fires. The County Forester and Fire Warden shall cooperate with
the State Forester and the Federal Forest Supervisors in the prevention
and suppression of forest fires in the County of Los Angeles, and shall
make a yearly report to the Board of Supervisors on the condition of the
forests in Los Angeles County and on the damage by fire to the forests
during the year reported.
(d) It shall be the duty of
the County Forester and Fire Warden, subject to the orders of the Board
of Supervisors, to construct and maintain fire lanes or breaks wherever
proper and necessary to check and prevent the spreading of forest or
brush fires. Such lanes or breaks shall be located and constructed in
the manner that will serve the greatest public good with the least injury
to the land on which they are constructed.
(e) It shall be the duty of
the County Forester and Fire Warden under the direction of the Board of
Supervisors, to study the fire protection needs of the County, and all
unincorporated territory thereof, and advise the Board of Supervisors
with respect thereto, and particularly of the advisability of the
formation of any county fire protection district or districts, to seek to
interest the inhabitants of any such proposed fire protection district
and to aid in its formation; after formation of such districts, to advise
the Board of Supervisors in the purchase of equipment and other property
for such districts and to supervise the agents, employees or other
persons engaged to fight fires therein, and in general, to have charge of
all matters relating to or connected with the administration of such
county fire protection districts.
(f) It shall be the duty of
the County Forester and Fire Warden to extinguish structural fires in
unincorporated territory not included within any fire protection
district. He shall also enforce all statutes, ordinances, and orders of
the Board of Supervisors relating to the prevention and extinguishment of
structural fires in such territory. Where a statute, ordinance or order
of the Board of Supervisors provides for the prevention or extinguishment
of particular kinds of structural fires or for the inspection or control
of particular structural fire hazards and prescribes duties for the
County Forester and Fire Warden respecting the same the County Forester
and Fire Warden shall act in accordance with such statute, ordinance or
order, but except as so prescribed his duties with reference to
structural fires and structural fire hazards shall be as prescribed
herein.
(g) It shall be the duty of
the County Forester and Fire Warden to inspect private lands and the
buildings and structures thereon for the purpose of determining if a
structural fire hazard exists. Where it is found that a fire hazard
exists he shall order the owner or person responsible therefor to abate
or diminish such hazard as said County Forester and Fire Warden may deem
proper, and he may make recommendations or suggestions to such person for
that purpose. If after due notice such person refuses or neglects to
abate or to diminish such structural fire hazard as directed by said
order, the County Forester and Fire Warden shall immediately report the
same to the Board of Supervisors, together with his recommendations as to
future action and thereafter he shall take such further steps as may be
ordered by the said Board of Supervisors. It shall also be the duty of
the County Forester and Fire Warden to render an annual report to the
Board of Supervisors setting forth the number and full details of the
structural fires which he has been called upon to extinguish, the
condition of such territory with regard to structural fire hazard and his
recommendations for better combatting such fires and for the abating and
lessening of such fire hazard.
(h) The County Forester and
Fire Warden shall use such apparatus, equipment, fire fighting personnel
and inspection personnel in carrying out the duties set forth in
paragraphs (f) and (g) hereof as the Board of Supervisors may from time
to time authorize for such use. Where it is necessary to use the
apparatus, equipment or fire fighting force of the fire protection
districts to extinguish structural fires in unincorporated territory not
included in any fire protection district and where such use is authorized
by the state statute creating and governing the County fire protection
districts, it shall be the duty of the County Forester and Fire Warden to
supervise and direct the use thereof for such purpose.
(i) It shall be the duty of
the County Forester and Fire Warden to extinguish and abate peat and bog
fires in unincorporated territory not included within any fire protection
district. He shall also enforce all statutes, ordinances and orders of
the Board of Supervisors relating to the prevention and extinguishment of
such fires.
(j) It shall be the duty of
the County Forester and Fire Warden subject to the orders of the Board of
Supervisors to carry on educational work for the information of the
public relative to the prevention of fires and to the conservation of
natural resources, and to prepare or cause to be prepared information
relating to these subjects and disseminate such information by means of
lectures, motion pictures, stereopticon slides or other projection of
pictures, displays and exhibits, or by any other appropriate means. He
shall also enforce all statutes, ordinances, and orders of the Board of
Supervisors relating to such educational work.80
Section
242/3. The County Surveyor shall be known and referred to as the
County Engineer. He shall be a civil engineer authorized to practice
civil engineering in the State of California. He shall perform all the
duties now or hereafter imposed by law on the County Surveyor, all civil
engineering work for the County except that which is now or hereafter
imposed on some other County officer by State law or by this Charter, and
such other duties as may be prescribed by ordinance of the
Board of Supervisors. 81
Section
25. Each County officer, Board or Commission shall have the powers
and perform the duties now or hereafter prescribed by general law, and by
this Charter, as to such officer, Board or
Commission.81A
ARTICLE VII.
Road Department
Section
26. The Board of Supervisors may provide for the formation of road
districts for the care, maintenance, repair and supervision of roads,
highways and bridges; and for the formation of highway construction
divisions for the construction of roads, highways and
bridges,82 for the inclusion in any such
district or division of the whole or any part of any incorporated city or
town upon ordinance passed by such incorporated city or town authorizing
the same, and upon the assent to such inclusion by a majority of the
qualified electors of such incorporated city or town or portion thereof
proposed to be so included at an election held for that purpose; for the
organization, government, powers and jurisdiction of such district or
division, for raising revenue therein for such purposes, by taxation,
upon the assent of a majority of the qualified electors of such district
or division, voting at an election held for that purpose; for the
incurring of indebtedness therefore by the County, district or division
for such purposes, respectively, by the issuance and sale, by the county,
of bonds of the county, district or division, and the expenditure of the
proceeds of the sale of such bonds, and for levying and collecting taxes
against the property of the county, district or division, as the case may
be, for the payment of the principal and interest of such indebtedness at
maturity; provided that any such indebtedness shall not be incurred
without the assent of two-thirds of the qualified electors of the county,
district or division, as the case may be, voting at an election held for
that purpose, nor unless before or at the time of incurring such
indebtedness, provision shall be made for the collection of an annual tax
sufficient to pay the interest on such indebtedness as it falls due, and
also Section for a sinking fund for the payment of the principal thereof
on or before maturity, which shall not exceed forty years from the time
of contracting the same; and the procedure for voting, issuing and
selling such bonds, except insofar as the same shall be otherwise
prescribed in this Charter, shall conform to general laws for the
authorizing and incurring of bonded indebtedness by counties, so far as
applicable; provided, further, that the construction, care, maintenance,
repair and supervision of roads, highways and bridges for which aid from
the State is granted shall be subject to such regulations and conditions
as may be imposed by the legislature.
Section
27. The Road Commissioner, subject to such rules and regulations
as shall be prescribed by the Board of Supervisors, shall have direction
and control over all work of construction, maintenance and repair of
roads, highways and bridges, other than work done under contract, and it
shall be his duty to examine and inspect contract work as the same
progresses and to see that the same is properly performed, and when
completed to file his written approval thereof with the Board of
Supervisors. He shall also have the control and management of all County
rock quarries and gravel pits, and of all other materials, property and
instrumentalities necessary for and connected with the construction,
maintenance and repair of roads, highways and
bridges.83
ARTICLE VIII.
Constabulary
Department
Section
28.
Repealed.83A
Section
29.Repealed.83B
ARTICLE IX.
Civil Service
Section
30. Purpose of Civil Service
System.84
The purpose of this article
is to establish a Civil Service System for the classified service which
shall provide County government with a productive, efficient, stable, and
representative work force by:
- Recruiting, selecting, and advancing employees on the basis of their
relative ability, knowledge, and skills relevant to the work to be
performed.
- Retaining employees on the basis of the adequacy of their
performance, correcting inadequate performance, and separating employees
whose inadequate performance cannot be corrected.
- Assuring fair treatment of applicants and employees in all aspects of
personnel administration without discrimination based on political
affiliation, race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed or
handicap and with proper regard for their privacy and constitutional
rights as citizens.
- Assuring that employees are protected against coercion for political
purposes and are prohibited from using their official authority for the
purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election or a
nomination for office.
Section
31. Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service Commission
shall consist of five members appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
Each member of the Commission shall be appointed for a four-year term and
shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. The term of a
Commissioner appointed prior to November 7, 1978, shall expire four years
after appointment or on November 7, 1978, whichever is later. Any
vacancy on the Commission shall be filled by the Board of Supervisors for
a full four-year term beginning on the date of appointment. No member
shall hold any other salaried County office, nor shall have been, within
the year next preceding appointment, an active executive officer in any
political organization. Each member shall be an elector of the County.
The Board of Supervisors by a four-fifths vote of all the members may
remove a member of the Commission during his or her term of office, but
only upon stating in writing the reasons for such removal and allowing
such member an opportunity to be publicly heard in his or her own defense.85
Section
32. Director of Personnel.
The Board of Supervisors
shall appoint the Director of Personnel who shall under the general
direction of the Board of Supervisors, administer the Civil Service
system in accordance with the provisions of this Charter and the Civil
Service Rules. The Director of Personnel shall, under the direction of
the Board of Supervisors, perform such other duties as may be prescribed
by said Board pursuant to the provisions of Section 223/4 hereof. The
Director of Personnel shall appoint all assistants, deputies, and other
persons in the department. 86
Section
33. The Civil Service of the County is hereby divided into the
unclassified and the classified
service.
87
The unclassified service
shall comprise:
- All officers elected by the people.
- Members of all commissions, committees and boards created by this
Charter, statute or ordinance.
- All heads of County agencies and departments.88
- In the office of the District Attorney: The Chief and one other
deputy, Bureau Chiefs, Assistant Bureau Chiefs, Administrative
Deputy-District Attorney, Chief Field Deputy, three Special Assistants,
one secretary, and three detectives; and special counsel and special
detectives for temporary employment.
- In the office of the Sheriff: The Undersheriff, or Chief Deputy, one
Executive Assistant, one Executive Secretary, three Field Deputies, two
Assistant Sheriffs, and eight Division Chiefs. In the office of the
Assessor: The Chief Deputy, one Assistant Assessor, one Executive
Secretary, three Special Assistants, and four Directors.
- Superintendents, principals and teachers in the school system.
- All officers and other persons serving the County without
compensation.
- In the office of each Supervisor: All Deputies. Some or all of
these Deputies may by ordinance be given a job title other than Deputy. 89
The classified service shall
include all other positions now existing or hereafter created.
Section
33.5. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Charter, any
person employed as a County department head on the effective date of this
Section and whose position as department head is removed from the
classified service on said date and placed in the unclassified service,
shall continue to have the same rights as if his position had not been
placed in the unclassified
service. 90
Section
33.5(a). Section 33.5(a). Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Charter, any person employed as an Executive Assistant, Executive
Secretary, Field Deputy, Division Chief, Assistant Sheriff, in the office
of the Sheriff, or as an Assistant Assessor, Executive Secretary, Special
Assistant, or Director in the office of the Assessor, or as a Bureau
Chief, Assistant Bureau Chief, Administrative Deputy District Attorney or
Chief Field Deputy in the office of the District Attorney on the
effective date of this Section shall remain in the classified service for
so long as he holds the position that he held on the effective date of
this
Section.91
Any other provision of this
Charter notwithstanding, a vacancy in the position of Assistant Sheriff
shall be filled without examination or creation of an eligibility list by
appointment from among sworn personnel holding a current permanent
appointment as an Inspector or higher position in the classified service
in the office of the Sheriff.
Any other provision of this
Charter notwithstanding, a vacancy in the position of Division Chief
shall be filled without examination or creation of an eligibility list by
appointment from among sworn personnel holding a current permanent
appointment as a Captain or a higher position in the classified service
in the office of the Sheriff.
Any other provision of this
Charter notwithstanding, a vacancy in the position of the Assistant
Assessor or Director shall be filled without examination or creation of
an eligibility list by appointment from among those persons holding a
current permanent appointment in the classified service in the office of
the Assessor.
Any other provision of this
Charter notwithstanding, a vacancy in the position of Bureau Chief and
Assistant Bureau Chief shall be filled without examination or creation of
an eligibility list by appointment from among those persons holding a
current permanent appointment as a Deputy District Attorney Grade IV or
higher attorney position in the classified service in the office of the
District Attorney.
Any other provision of this
Charter notwithstanding, a vacancy in the position of Administrative
Deputy District Attorney shall be filled without examination or creation
of an eligibility list by appointment from among those persons holding a
permanent appointment to a classified position under this Charter.
Section
33.6. In the event that a member of the classified service is
appointed to an unclassified position, he shall have the right to take a
leave of absence from his position in the classified service while
holding such appointment and, upon the termination of such appointment,
to return to the status in the classified service which he held at the
time of his
appointment.92
Section
33.7.
Repealed.93
Section
33.8. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Charter, any
person employed as a Supervisor's Deputy on the effective date of this
Section and whose position as Supervisor's Deputy is removed from the
classified service on said date and placed in the unclassified service,
shall continue to have the same rights as if his position had not been
placed in the unclassified
service.94
Section
34. Functions of the Commission.
The Civil Service Commission
shall serve as an appellate body in accordance with the provisions of
Sections 35(4) and 35(6) of this article and as provided in the Civil
Service Rules.
The Commission shall propose
and, after a public hearing, adopt and amend rules to govern its own
proceedings.
In any hearing conducted by
the Commission or by a hearing officer appointed by the Commission, the
Commission or the hearing officer shall have the power to subpoena and
require the attendance of witnesses and the production thereby of books
and papers pertinent to the hearing and each Commissioner or hearing
officer shall have the power to administer oaths to such witnesses.95
Section
35. Civil Service Rules.
Rules of the Civil Service
System shall be adopted by the Board of Supervisors only after a public
hearing.
Rules of the Civil Service
System shall provide for:
- Establishment and maintenance of a classification plan and the
classification of all positions which are included in the system.
- Recruitment of persons to fill positions, either on an open or
promotional basis, evaluation of qualifications of applicants, the
establishment and maintenance of lists of qualified persons ranked
according to their relative qualifications to hold designated positions,
and certification of such lists to appointing powers. Appointments from
lists may be made on a permanent, temporary, or recurrent basis. In the
absence of an appropriate list, where the Director of Personnel finds an
emergency exists, emergency appointments may be made. Such appointments
may not exceed 90 days and may not be extended. Appointments to
permanent positions shall be final only after the completion of a
probationary period.
- Establishment of Countywide policies and systems for the evaluation
of employee performance and for employee development
- Procedures for appeal of allegations of political discrimination and
of discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin, religious
opinions or affiliations or handicap made by County employees, regardless
of status, and by applicants for employment.
- Procedures for layoff or reduction in lieu of layoff by the
appointing power for reasons of economy or lack of work.
- Civil Service Commission hearings on appeals of discharges and
reductions of permanent employees.
- Transfer and promotion of employees between County departments and
districts participating in the Civil Service System and governed
ex-officio by the Board of Supervisors.
Existing Civil Service Rules
will remain in effect until such time as revisions are adopted by the Board of Supervisors.96
Section
36. Certification of Payroll.
The Auditor shall not approve
any salary or compensation for services to any person holding or
performing the duties of a position in the classified service, unless the
payroll account for such salary or compensation shall bear the
certificate of the Director of Personnel that the persons named therein
have been appointed or employed in accordance with the provisions of this
article and the rules established thereunder.
97
Section
361/2. In all open competitive examinations held pursuant to this
Charter, the Civil Service Commission shall, in addition to all other
credits, give a credit of ten percent of the total credits specified for
such examination to all persons passing the examination who have, or who
shall have, served in the armed forces of the United States in time of
war, armed insurrection or international police action and are honorably
discharged, or whose service was honorable, and also to the wife of any
such person who while engaged in such service in time of war, armed
insurrection or international police action was wounded, disabled or
crippled and thereby permanently prevented from engaging in any
remunerative occupation, and also to the widow of any such person who
died or was killed while in such
service.
98
Section
37.
Repealed. 99
Section
38.
Repealed.100
Section
39.
Repealed.101
Section
40.
Repealed.102
Section
41. No person in the classified service, or seeking admission
thereto, shall be appointed, reduced or removed or in any way favored or
discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, political
or religious opinions or
affiliations.103
Section
42.
Repealed.104
Section
43.
Repealed.105
Section
44. Any person willfully violating any of the provisions of this
article, or of the rules established hereunder, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor.
Section
44.5 Nothing in this Article shall prevent the leasing of
County-owned real property when and as authorized by
law.106
Section
44.7. Nothing in this Article shall prevent the County, when the
Board of Supervisors finds that work can more economically or feasibly be
performed by independent contractors, from entering into contracts for
the performance of such work. The Board of Supervisors shall adopt an
ordinance specifying criteria for entering into contracts, and specifying
competitive bidding procedures for the award of such
contracts.107
ARTICLE X.
Labor
Section
45. In the employment of persons in the service of the County,
where sex does not actually disqualify and where the quality and quantity
of service is equal, there shall be no discrimination in selection or
compensation on account of sex.
Section
46. Eight hours shall constitute a day's work for mechanics and
others engaged in manual labor in the service of the County.
Section
47. In fixing
compensation .108 to
be paid to persons under the classified civil service, the Board of
Supervisors shall be governed by applicable State statutes and County ordinances.109
Section
47.5. Discharge of striking
employees.109A
- No employee of the County of Los Angeles shall instigate, participate
in, or afford leadership to a strike against the County of Los Angeles,
or engage in any form of concerted action to withhold service from said
County, or any of its departments, commissions or agencies.
- A strike or concerted action to withhold services from said County,
or any of its departments, commissions or agencies shall be defined as
the failure of any employee or group of employees to report for duty, the
absence of any employee or group of employees from duty, the stoppage of
work or the abstinence in whole or in part from full, faithful and proper
performance of the duties of employment, for the purposes of inducing,
influencing or coercing a change in the conditions, compensation, rights,
privileges or influencing or others not to remain in or assume public
employment; provided, however, that nothing herein shall limit or impair
the right of any employee or group of employees to express or communicate
a complaint or opinion on any matter related to conditions of public
employment, so long as the same is not designed to and does not interfere
with the full, faithful and proper performance of the duties of public
employment.
- Any employee of the County of Los Angeles who instigates,
participates in or affords leadership to a strike against the County of
Los Angeles or any of its departments, commissions or agencies, or
engages in any form of concerted action to withhold services therefrom
shall be subject to discharge from County service and said person shall
not be reinstated or returned to the employ of the County of Los Angeles:
Except that the employee may apply to return to County service as a new
employee and may be employed in accordance with the regular employment
practices of the County, in effect at the time for the position sought.
- In the event of any such strike or concerted action, it shall be the
duty of the Chief Administrative Officer or appropriate appointing
authority to identify any employee of the County under his jurisdiction
who is in violation of the provisions of this Section, and to initiate
discharge proceedings against such employee in accordance with the
applicable provisions of this Charter. Prior to initiating such a
discharge proceeding, the Chief Administrative Officer or appropriate
appointing authority shall provide notice to the employee of the charges
against the employee and shall provide the employee with a timely
opportunity to respond thereto. If the Chief Administrative Officer, or
other appropriate appointing authority, after completing an
investigation, determines that the charges are supported by the evidence
submitted, and that the employee instigated, participated in, or afforded
leadership to a strike against the County of Los Angeles or any of its
departments, commissions or agencies, or engaged in any form of concerted
action to withhold services therefrom, said appointing authority shall
discharge the employee involved, and said person shall not be reinstated
or returned to the employment of the County of Los Angeles; except as
stated in paragraph (c) of this Section.
- In determining whether an employee engaged in a strike or in any form
of concerted action to withhold service from said County or any of its
departments, commissions or agencies, the Chief Administrative Officer or
appropriate appointing authority shall use the following presumption
which is rebuttable: Any employee who is absent from work without
permission or who abstains wholly or in part from the full performance of
the employee's duties in the employee's normal manner without permission,
on the date or dates when a strike or concerted action to withhold
services occurs, shall be presumed to have engaged in such strike or in
concerted action to withhold services on such date or dates.
- A discharge imposed pursuant to this Section shall be appealable to
the Civil Service Commission. However, notwithstanding other provisions
of this Charter, in deciding whether the discharge of an employee for
violating the provisions of this Section is proper, the Civil Service
Commission shall be bound by the presumption stated in paragraph (e) of
this Section. If, in the opinion of the Civil Service Commission, this
presumption is not rebutted by a preponderance of the probative evidence,
the Civil Service Commission shall sustain the discharge of the employee,
and the County shall not be required to reinstate the employee.
- No officer, board, commissioner, appointing authority, or other agent
of the County, elected or appointed, shall have the power to grant
amnesty and/or to waive any of the provisions of this Section, and/or to
authorize, appease, condone or consent to any employee's instigating,
participating in, or affording leadership to a strike against the County
of Los Angeles or any of its departments, commissions or agencies, or
engaging in any form of concerted action to withhold service therefrom.
No person exercising any authority, supervision or direction over the
agencies shall have the power to authorize, approve, condone of consent
to a strike or other concerted activity prohibited by this Section; and
no such person shall authorize, approve, condone or consent to such
strike or other concerted activity prohibited by this Section.
- Every employee of the County of Los Angeles, whether employed on the
effective date of this Section or thereafter employed, shall be furnished
a copy of the provisions of this Section and shall acknowledge receipt
thereof by executing the following statement which shall be filed with
the office of the Civil Service Commission:
"I hereby acknowledge receipt
of a copy of the provisions of Section 47.5 of the Charter of the County
of Los Angeles and agree that I understand that during my term of
employment with the County, I shall neither instigate, participate in, or
afford leadership to a strike against the County of Los Angeles, or any
of its departments or agencies, or engage in any concerted action to
withhold my services from the County of Los Angeles, or any of its
departments or agencies."
"I further understand that
if I instigate, participate in or afford leadership to such a strike or
engage in any such concerted action I shall be subject to discharge and
shall not be reemployed by the County; except that I may apply to return
to County service as a new employee and may be employed in accordance
with the regular employment practices of the County in effect at that
time for the position which I seek."
"Furthermore, I understand
that I will be rebuttably presumed to have engaged in such a strike or
other prohibited concerted action against the County of Los Angeles, its
commissions, departments and agencies, if I am absent from work without
permission or if I abstain wholly or in part from the full performance of
my duties in the normal manner without permission from the appropriate
appointing authority on the date or dates when a strike or other form of
concerted action to withhold services from said County, or any of its
commissions, departments or agencies occurs."
"I further understand that no
officer, board, commissioner or appointing authority of the County,
elected or appointed, shall have the power to grant amnesty to any person
who violates the prohibition in Section 47.5 of the Charter against
instigating, participating in, or affording leadership to a strike
against the County, or engaging in any concerted action to withhold
services from the County, or any of its departments, commissions or
agencies."
- In the event that an employee organization has instigated,
participated in or afforded leadership to a strike against the County of
Los Angeles, or any of its departments, commissions or agencies; or to
any concerted action to withhold service therefrom; the Board of
Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles is hereby prohibited from
granting any improvement of wages, hours, or working conditions to
employees represented by that organization beyond those in effect or last
offered by the County prior to the commencement of such strike or
concerted activity, until the commencement of the meet and confer
negotiations for the next bargaining year at a time regularly scheduled
for commencement under County policy and provisions governing such
negotiations. This remedy shall not preclude the County of Los Angeles
from securing any other equitable or legal relief to which it may be
entitled under State law.
- If any provisions of this Section 47.5 or the application thereof to
any person or circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity shall not
affect other provisions or applications of this Section which can be
given effect without the invalid provisions or application; and to this
end the provisions of this Section are severable.109B
Section
48. Every person who shall have been in the service of the County,
continuously, for one-year, shall be allowed a vacation for not less than
two weeks on full pay, are
annually.110
Section
49. The Board of Supervisors shall prohibit enforced labor without
compensation as a penalty for the commission of public offenses. The net
earnings of all County prisoners, based upon reasonable compensation for
service performed, shall go to the support of their dependents, and if
such prisoners have no dependents, such net earnings shall accumulate and
be paid to them upon their discharge.
ARTICLE XI.
Recall
Section
50. The provisions of State law applicable to the recall of County
Officers shall apply to the recall of elected
County
officers.111
ARTICLE XII.
Miscellaneous
Section
51. Each County or township officer, Board or Commission shall
appoint, from the eligible civil service list, for either permanent or
temporary service, all assistants, librarians, deputies, clerks, attaches
and other persons in the office or department of such officer, board or
commission, as the number thereof is fixed and from time to time changed
by the Board of Supervisors; provided that appointments to the
unclassified service in their respective offices and departments shall be
made by such officers, boards and commissions, without reference to such
eligible list.
Section
52. The compensation of an elective County or township officer
shall not be increased nor diminished during the
term112 for which he was elected, nor within
ninety days preceding his election;113
provided, however, that the Board of Supervisors may adopt an ordinance
thirty or more days preceding the election increasing or diminishing the
salary of an elective office upon taking office of a new officer who was
not the holder of the office during the immediately preceding term.
Whenever the Board of Supervisors fills a vacancy pursuant to Section 16
of this Charter, the compensation of the office may be increased or
diminished by an ordinance adopted prior to the appointment of the new
officer.114
Section
53. Whenever any person in the service of the County is compelled
to travel in the performance of his duty, he shall, in addition to his
regular compensation, be reimbursed for his actual necessary expenditures
for transportation, the hire of conveyances, and for lodging and meals.
An itemized account of such expenditures shall be filed with the Clerk of
the Board of Supervisors and be approved by the Auditor before being
paid. The Board of Supervisors shall fix a maximum price to be paid for
such lodging and meals, which shall be uniform and be made applicable to
all persons alike, including members of the Board of Supervisors.
Section
54. No attorney, agent, stockholder or employee of any firm,
association or corporation doing business under or by virtue of any
franchise granted by, or contract made with the county, shall, nor shall
any person doing such business, nor shall any person financially
interested in any such franchise or contract, be eligible to hold any
appointive county office, the holding of which office empowers the
incumbent to enter into or approve any such franchise or
contract.115
Section
55. The District Attorney, Public Defender, County Counsel, and
their deputies, shall not engage in any private law practice, and they
shall devote all their time and attention during business hours, to the
duties of their respective offices.
Section
56. Nothing in this Charter is intended to affect, or shall be
construed as affecting, the tenure of
office116 of any of the elective officers of
the County or of any districts, township or division thereof, in the
office at the time this Charter goes into effect, and such officers shall
continue to hold their respective offices until the expiration of the
term for which they shall have been elected unless sooner removed in the
manner provided by law; nor shall anything in this Charter be construed
as changing or affecting the compensation117 of any such officer during
the term for which he shall have been elected.118 But the successors of each and
of all such officers shall be elected or appointed as provided in this
Charter, and not otherwise.
Section
561/4. The Board of Supervisors may contract with a city, district,
public agency or political subdivision in the County for the performance
by its officers or employees of any or all of the functions or duties
required or authorized to be performed by the County or any County
officer within the territorial limits of such city, district, public
agency or political subdivision, whenever in the case of a city organized
under Section 8 of Article XI of the Constitution, the discharge of such
functions or duties by city officers or employees is authorized by its
charter, or whenever in the case of any other city, district, public
agency or political subdivision the discharge of such functions or duties
by its officers or employees is authorized by
law.119
Section
561/2. Said County shall have power and authority to provide for
the assumption and discharge of, and to assume and discharge, by County
officers, any of the municipal functions of any of the cities and towns
within said County, whenever, in the case of its cities and towns
incorporated under general laws, the discharge by county officers of such
municipal functions is authorized by general law, or whenever in the case
of cities or towns organized under Section eight of Article XI of the
Constitution of the State of California, the discharge by County officers
of such municipal functions is authorized by the provisions of the
charters or by amendments thereto, of such cities or
towns.120
Section
563/4. The Board of Supervisors may require any County department,
officer or Commission to perform any or all of the functions of any
department, officer or Commission of any city, district, public agency or
political subdivision in the County whenever requested by such city,
district, public agency or political subdivision. The terms and
conditions upon which such functions are to be performed by the County
shall be fixed by agreement, which may provide for the consideration to
be paid to the County, the blanketing into County civil service with or
without examination of any or all officers or employees who have been
performing such functions or such city, district, public agency or
political subdivision for at least six months, and for the terms and
conditions upon which such persons are to be employed in the classified
service of the County, including seniority, efficiency, sick leave,
vacation and all other rights or benefits granted County
employees.121
Section
564/5. The County shall not have the power to provide for the
assumption or discharge by County officers of any of the functions of a
county formed after June 1, 1978, from territory which prior to that date
was part of the County of Los Angeles. Nothing in this Section shall be
construed to prohibit mutual aid
pacts.122
Section
57. This charter shall take effect at noon on the first Monday in
June 1913.123
We, the undersigned, members
of the Board of Fifteen Freeholders of the County of Los Angeles, in the
State of California, elected at a special election held in the said
County on the 14th day of May, 1912 to prepare and provide a Charter for
the said County, under and in accordance with Section 71/2 of Article XI
of the Constitution of this State, have prepared, and we do hereby
propose, the foregoing as and for a Charter of said County.
In witness whereof, we
hereunto sign our names in duplicate this 24th day of September, 1912.
LEWIS R. WORKS, Chairman
FREDERICK BAKER.
WILLIS H. BOOTH.
T. H. DUDLEY.
WILLIAM A. ENGLE.
DAVID EVANS.
H. C. HUBBARD.
J. M. HUNTER.
GEO. F. KERNAGHAN.
FRANK R. SEAVER.
J. H. STRINE.
CHARLES WELLBORN.
FOOTNOTES
1The County is not a corporation, nor even a
municipal corporation. Strictly speaking, a county is not a corporation
at all. It is a legal subdivision of a state charged with governmental
powers. Estate of Miller, 5 Cal. (2d) 588, 55P (2d) 491 (1936); Whelan
v. Bailey, 1 Cal. App. (2d) 334, 36 P. (2d) 709 (1934). But see
Sacramento v. Chambers, 33 Cal. App. 142, 164 P. 613 (1917), to the
effect that a county is a quasi corporation. (Gov. Code, Sec. 23003.) A
county is a legal department of the state. Watson v. Los Altos School
District, 149 Cal. App. (2d) 768 at 772, 308 P. (2d) 872 (1957).
2Gov. Code, Sec. 23004.
3The Charter may be called the "organic law
of the county." People v. McAleer, 33 Cal. App. 135, 164 P. 425 (1917).
4Gov. Code, Sec. 23005.
5Smith v. Evans, 42 Cal. 3 154 (1974) hold a
one-year residency requirement in a city charter to be in violation of
the equal protection clause.
6Article XI, Sec. 4 (former Sec. 71/2) of the
State Constitution, fairly constructed simply requires a county charter
to make provisions for compensation of supervisors; it does not require
nor state explicitly that such compensation shall be set forth and fixed
in charter itself. Brown v. Francisco,123 Cal. App. (2d) 413, 266 P.
(2d) 951 (1954).
7A charter amendment relating to salaries of
supervisors held to affect incumbents as it applied to such officers and
no exception was made as to incumbents. Mapes v. Williams, 2 Cal. (2d)
177, 25 P. (2d) 896, 39 P. (2d) 421 (1934).
Section 4 is limited by
Section 56. All elective county officers whose terms commenced before
the charter went into effect should during such terms continue to draw
the salaries which attached to such officers under the general laws of
the state. Pridham v. Lewis, 30 Cal. App. 395, 158 P. 333 (1916).
81952 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1953,
Resolution Chap. 5, P. 3781 at P. 3783.
8A1984 Amendment. Proposed by Board of
Supervisors February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984,
filed with Secretary of State August 9, 1984, and was given Charter
Chapter No. 20.
9Note also Section 25001.1 of the Government
Code.
The one man one vote
principle applies to supervisorial districts. Avery v. Midland County,
390 U.S. 474, 88 S. Ct. 1114, 20 L.Ed. (2d) 45 (1968).
While the factors of "* *
*(a) topography, (b) geography, (c) cohesiveness, contiguity, integrity,
and compactness of territory, and (d) community of interests of the
districts," should be considered, none of these will excuse or justify a
departure from mathematical exactness in population. In Kirkpatrick v.
Preisler, 394 U.S. 526 at 533, 534, 89 S. Ct. 1225 at 1230, 22 L.Ed. (2d)
519 at 526 (1969).
As to apportionment on the
basis of registered voters, see Calderon v. City of Los Angeles, 4 Cal.
3d 251, 93 Cal. Rptr. 361, 481 P. (2d) (1971).
See also Weinstein. "The
Effect of the Federal Re-Apportionment Decisions on Counties and other
Forms of Municipal Government," 65 Columbia Law Review 21 (Jan. 1965).
10"A county may by charter impose duties
upon supervisors and other county officers in addition to those
prescribed by general laws but not inconsistent or in conflict therewith.
The power of the legislature to enact general laws prescribing the duties
of such officers is not affected or impaired by the constitutional
provisions authorizing counties to frame and adopt charters for their own
government." Wilkinson v. Lund, 102 Cal. App. 767, 283 P. 385 (1929).
11Article XI Section 7 of the State
Constitution.
A police regulation must be
by ordinance, not a resolution. City of Sausalito v. County of Marin, 12
Cal. App 3d 550 at 565-566, 90 Cal. Rptr. 843 at 853 (1970).
A county police ordinance
applies only to unincorporated territory. City of South San Francisco v.
Berry, 120 Cal. App. (2d) 252, 260 P. (2d) 1045 (1953); Glasser v.
Municipal Court, Superior Court of County of Los Angeles, No. 407228,
reversed on other grounds, 27 Cal. App. (2d) 455, 81 P. (2d) 260 (1938).
12The Secretary of the Superior Court is not
a county officer or attache of the county within the purview of Section 4
(formerly Section 71/2) of the Article XI of the Constitution or Section
56 of the Charter. Therefore compensation can be changed by legislative
act during the term appointment. Noel v. Lewis, 35 Cal. App. 658, 170 P.
857 (1917).
13The Board of Supervisors being authorized
under the Charter, Section 11, to make provision for appointment of
probation officers, and such appointment having been provided for, the
general laws of the state cease to operate as to that matter. Gibson v.
Civil Service Commission, 27 Cal. App. 396, 150 P. 78 (1915).
14The absence in the Charter of provisions
fixing a time for the taking effect of ordinances or relative to the
initiative and referendum makes the general law provisions of Gov. Code
Secs. 25120-25125 effective in these matters. Cline v. Lewis, 175 Cal.
315, 165 P. 915 (1917).
15The salary of the Sheriff, having been
fixed pursuant to this Section, the general law provisions relative to
keeping for his own use fees received by the Sheriff for transporting
persons to state prisons and asylums are superseded, and those fees
though collected from the state, are required, pursuant to Section 15 of
the Charter, to be paid into the County Treasury. County of Los Angeles
v. Cline, 37 Cal. App. 607, 174 P. 73 (1918).
16The charter amendment of Butte County
attempting to regulate the compensation of assistants, deputies and clerk
was in violation of Section 4 (former Sub. 5 of Sec. 71/2) of Article XI
of the Constitution, which provides that this power is vested in the
Board of Supervisors, Morton v. Richards, 134 Cal. App. 665, 26 P. (2d)
320 (1933).
17A charter provision fixing the salary of
an officer takes precedence over a general law provision fixing the
salary for the same officer. County of Tehama v. Winter, 56 Cal. App.
341, 205 P. 97 (1922).
18Repeal proposed by Board of Supervisor
February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984, filed with
Secretary of State August 9, 1984.
19When Board of Supervisors, in enacting an
ordinance providing for probation officers and fixing the compensation,
makes no mention of the manner in which the appointment shall be made,
the general laws of the state govern the matter. Anderson v. Lewis, Cal.
App. 24, 154 P. 287 (1915).
20County ordinances enacted pursuant to this
Charter authority provided for the appointment of deputy county clerks
without compensation to be parcelled out among the deputies of other
county departments in order to facilitate the administration of county
business and which permit a deputy or a clerk in one county office to
hold an appointment under another county office, have not been nullified.
Markowitz v. Carpenter, 94 Cal. App. (2d) 667, 211 P. (2d) 617 (1949).
21See note 12 supra.
22There is no requirement that an ordinance
shall relate to but one subject or that its title should disclose all its
purposes. Thus, legislation creating the office of director of public
health and sanitation is not invalid because it is included in the
Administrative Code of the County of San Diego. Lesem v. Getty, 23 Cal.
App. (2d) 57, 72 P. (2d) 183 (1937).
231966 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1967,
Resolution Chapter 6.
24Under this Section and the provisions of
the Statutes of 1933, page 2005, Sec. 6, the Board of Supervisors had
authority to enact ordinance providing for an affidavit by an applicant
for relief. People v. Ziady, 8 Cal. (2d) 149, 64 P. (2d) 425 (1937).
24A1980 Addition. Proposed by the Board
of Supervisors August 19, 1980, ratified at special election November 4,
1980, accepted by and filed with Secretary of State June 8, 1981,
published Stats. 1981, Charter Chapter 19.
25See Gov. Code Secs. 26600-26749.
26See Gov. Code Secs. 26500-26505.
It is the duty of the
District Attorney of Los Angeles County to abate, when directed by the
Board of Supervisors, that which constitutes a public nuisance with the
Red Light Abatement Act (Stats. 1913, P. 20, Sec. 1-3, although the
County Charter invests County Counsel with "exclusive charge and control
of all civil actions and proceedings in which the county or any officer
thereof is concerned or is a party.") (Gov. Code Sec. 26528; Code Civ.
Proc. 731.)
When a mandatory duty to
abate a nuisance is imposed upon a District Attorney by a statute leaving
him no discretion to exercise, mandamus is the proper remedy to compel
him to institute proceedings. Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles County
v. Simpson, as District Attorney, 36 Cal. (2d) 671, 227 P. (2d) 14
(1951).
27For duties of assessor see Chapter 8,
consisting of Sections 27420 and 27421 of Part 3 of Division 2 of Title 3
of the Government Code, and 20811 of the Education Code. The latter
Section was held valid in Board of Education v. Watson, 63 Cal. (2d) 829,
48 Cal. Rptr. 481, 409 P. (2d) 481 (1966).
Note, also, Section 3100.6 of
the Government Code permitting the Board of Supervisors to contract with
and employ legal counsel to assist the assessor in cases in which the
County Counsel would have a conflict of interest.
28This Section was controlled by a clause in
Sec. 4 (former Sec. 71/2) of Art. XI of the Constitution providing:
"All elective officers of
counties. . .shall be nominated and elected in the manner provided by
general laws for the nomination and election of such officers."
Hence this Section is
partially superseded by Constitution Art. II, Sec. 23/4, enacted Nov. 2,
1926, and providing for the election of candidates for judicial, school,
county, township, or other nonpartisan officers, who receive a majority
on all ballots cast for candidates for such office at a primary election.
Kerr v. Russell, 209 Cal. 36, 285 P. 311 (1930).
1984 amendment proposed by
Board of Supervisors February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June
5, 1984, filed with Secretary of State August 9, 1984, and was given
charter Chapter No. 20.
29An appointment to the office must be made
by the Board of Supervisors from an eligible civil service list as
required by Subdivision (1), Section 11 of Article III of this Charter.
People v. McAleer, 33 Cal. App. 135, 164 P.425 (1917).
30For duties, see Gov. Code Secs.
26900-26922, 29740-29749, 29803-29804.
31For general duties, see Education Code
Secs. 651-652.
32For duties, see Business and Professions
Code Secs. 6300-6307.
33For duties, see Gov. Code Secs.
31110-31113.
34For duties, See Gov. Code Secs.
27460-27531.
35For duties, see Gov. Code Secs.
26800-26806.
The County Clerk's duty to
certify a petition for election of freeholders is purely ministerial and
he must certify the petition to the Board of Supervisors if the required
number of qualified electors have signed the petition. Chester v. Hall,
55 Cal. App. 611, 204 P. 237 (1921).
The surety of the County
Clerk was liable under the provisions of the bond for the dereliction of
activities of the County Clerk when he was acting as ex-officio clerk of
the Superior Court. Union Bank & Trust Co. v. County of Los Angeles, 11
Cal. (2d) 675, 81 P. (2d) 919 (1938). (See Gov. Code Sec. 26800).
Where the County Clerk if
ex-officio the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors there is nothing which
prohibits the separation of the two offices during the term for which the
County Clerk is elected since the ex-officio office attached to that of
County Clerk at the time of election is not also an elected office, there
is no reason why the administrative code of the County may not provide
for segregation of the two offices and for appointment of the Clerk of
the Board of Supervisors by the County executive. 22 Ops. Atty. Gen. 177
(1953).
In this County the County
Clerk is not ex-officio the Clerk of the Board of Supervisor. Government
Code Sec. 25100.5 last amended by Stats. 1972 Chap. 326.
36For duties see Gov. Code Secs.
27640-27644, 26529, 3100.6, 31529; Health & Safety Code Sec. 34279.
The County Charter may
properly provide for the powers and duties of its officers, and may do
this without limitation by general law. Hence it may provide that the
County Counsel shall act as attorney for its public administrator, who is
a public officer exercising governmental functions. Estate of Miller, 5
Cal. (2d) 588, 55 P. (2d) 491 (1936).
See Note 23 supra.
37For duties, see Fish and Game Code Secs.
878, 879.
38For duties, see Health and Safety Code
Secs. 491-493; Gov. Code Sec. 31530.
39For duties, see Agricultural Code Secs.
2271-2281. Section 2322 of the former Political Code created the office
of horticultural commissioner. When the 1933 Agricultural Code was
adopted, Stats. 1933, Chap. 25 P. 60, Section 50 of the 1933 code changed
the name to "Agricultural Commissioner."
40"The Tax Collector is ex-officio
License-Collector, and as License-Collector shall collect all county
licenses and perform the duties prescribed by law and by the ordinances
of the Board of Supervisors." Gov. Code Sec. 27400.
41For duties, see Agricultural Code, Secs.
2341-2344. Section 68 of the 1933 Agricultural Code prior to 1965
provided that a livestock inspector may be appointed by the Board of
Supervisors. Section 24000 of the Government Code included a livestock
inspector in its list of county officers. By Stats. 1965, Chap. 148, P.
1101 the Legislature substituted county veterinarian in both Sections.
By inadvertence a later statute in that same session, Chapter 1271 P.
3145 restored "livestock inspector" in Section 24000 of the Government
Code and that designation was retained when the Section was amended by
Stats. 1971, Chap. 211, P. 275 at 276. By Stats. 1972, Chap. 618 Section
24000 again was amended to restore "county veterinarian."
42For duties, see Welfare and Institutions
Code Sec. 543.
43For duties, see Welfare and Institutions
Code Secs. 516, 580-585, 652-654.
Although probation officers
are in a sense adjuncts or officers of the court, they are nevertheless,
in a complete sense of the term, county officers. Gibson v. Civil
Service Comm., 27 Ca. App. 396, 150 P. 78 (1915).
44For duties, see Probate Code Secs.
1140-1155, Gov. Code Secs. 27440-27443.
The Public Administrator is a
public officer, performing a governmental function, and is entitled to
the legal services of the attorney for the county, at least where the
County Charter so provides. Estate of Miller, 5 Cal (2d) 588, 55 P. (2d)
491 (1936).
A public administrator is
primarily a public officer performing essentially a governmental
function, but when, by virtue of his office, he is appointed
administrator of a particular estate, he becomes as to that estate the
trustee of a private trust and is subject to the powers and duties of
administrators generally, where there is no charter or statutory
provision specially governing his action in discharge of his duties.
Prob. Code Sec. 902 applies
to a public administrator in his administration of a private trust in
absence of statutory or charter provision declaring otherwise and in
making such contracts as provided for in Section 902 he acts not on
behalf of the county but on behalf of the estate he is administering.
Estate of McMillin v. Robinson, 46 Cal. (2d) 121, 292 P. (2d) 881 (1956).
45For duties, see Gov. Code. Secs.
27700-27711.
After the decision in Avan v.
Municipal Court, 62 Cal. (2d) 630, 43 Cal. Rptr. 835, 401 P. (2d) 227
(1965) holding that the County must pay counsel assigned to defend
defendants in cases triable in municipal and justice courts, including
city public defenders, the Legislatures by Chapters 324, P. 1434,
Statutes of 1965, amended Section 27706 of the Governmental Code to
require a county public defender also to defend in cases triable in
municipal and justice courts.
Note, also, Marks v. Superior
Court, 245 Cal. App. (2d) 779, 54 Cal. Rptr. 169 (1966).
46For duties, see Gov. Code Secs.
25500-25508.
47For duties, see Gov. Code Secs.
27200-27383.
48For duties, see Elections Code Secs. 17,
280, 281, 283, 285-287, 1620-1624, 1628-1632.
49For duties, see Education Code Secs.
801-816.
Provision of a county charter
framed under Section 4 (formerly Section 71/2) of Article XI of the
Constitution, prescribing the duties of officers does not relate to the
County Superintendent of Schools as this office is the constitutional
office created by Sec. 3 of Article IX of the State Constitution. Under
Section 4 (former Section 71/2) of this article, the charter may provide
that the office be appointive despite Section 3 of the said Article IX
which says that a superintendent of schools for each county shall be
elected. Nielsen v. Richards, 69 Cal. App. 533, 232 P. 480 (1924).
Constitution Article IX,
Section 3.1, authorizing the Legislature to fix salaries of county
superintendents of schools supersedes not only former Section 5 of
Article XI which, prior to its repeal in 1970, prohibited increase in
compensation of a county officer during his term of office, but also a
county charter provisions prohibiting such increase enacted under Article
XI, Section 4 (former Section 71/2). Seidel v. Waring, 36 Cal. (2d) 149,
222 P. (2d) 669 (1950).
50For duties, see Gov. Code Secs.
27550-27564 and Section 242/3 infra. P. 27. In this County the county
surveyor is known as county engineer.
51For duties, see Revenue and Taxation Code
Sec. 2602, Gov. Code Secs. 27400-27401.
52For duties, see Gov. Code Secs.
27000-27121.
Quoting from Board of Law
Library Trustee v. Lowery, 67, Cal. App. (2d) 480, 154 P. (2d) 719 (1945)
the court said:
"Aside and separate from his
duties as official treasurer for the county, the county treasurer, by
legislative direction, is in effect ex-officio treasurer for public
bodies without treasures of their own, including the superior court."
Ostly v. Saper, 147 Cal. App. (2d) 671, 305 P. 946 (1957).
531966 Addition. Added by Stats. 1967
Resolution Chap. 6.
54The Secretary of the Superior Court is an
officer of the courts which are a part of the judicial system of the
state. Such officer is not a county officer, attache or employee, and is
not so recognized by either the Charter or Constitution. Noel v. Lewis,
35 Cal. App. 658, 170 P. 857 (1917).
551934 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1935,
Chap. 31 P. 2440 at P. 2442.
561956 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1957,
Chap. 125, P. 4462 at P. 4464.
57Under this Section a sheriff whose
compensation has been fixed pursuant to Section 11(1) of the Charter must
pay all fees collected by him as sheriff to the County Treasury.
"Under the ordinance passed
pursuant to charter provisions, the time of the sheriff consumed in the
performance of his official duties belongs to the county, and his
earnings in performance thereof, like those of any other employee, belong
to the employer." County of Los Angeles v. Cline, 37 Cal. App. 607, 174
P. 73 (1918).
Where the general law fixed
the salary of an assessor and provided that he could keep for his own use
four percent of the personal property taxes collected by him and where
the county charter fixed a different salary and provided that the
assessor should pay all fees and commissions into the county treasury;
held the charter provisions prevailed. County of Tehama v. Winter. 56
Cal. App. 341, 205 P. 97 (1922).
Fees paid by the State to the
county for work done by the County Director of Public Health and
Sanitation as local registrar of vital statistics belong to the county
under a charter Section providing that all fees "collected for the
performance of official duties or otherwise" be paid into the County
Treasury. Lesem v. Getty, 23 Cal. App. (2d) 57, 72 P. (2d) 183 (1937).
Distinguishing: Sacramento v. Simmons, 66 Cal. App. 18 225 P. 36 (1924),
holding the fees paid to a commissioner of the City of Sacramento who was
also head of the Department of Public Health and Safety for such city for
acting as registrar of vital statistics could not be recovered from him
by the city under a provision of the city charter reading:
"All public moneys collected
by any officer or employee of the city shall be paid into the city
treasury, without any deduction on account of any claim for fees,
commissions or any other cause or pretense."
58The unexpired term of a district attorney
who resigned from such office is to be filled by election at the first
general election which occurs following the vacancy for which election
candidates could qualify under any method prescribed by law, and the fact
that the vacancy did not occur until after the primary election is
immaterial when considered in the light of the language of the charter.
Hedlund v. Davis, 47 Cal. (2d) 75, 301 P. (2d) 843 (1956).
59This whole article probably has been
superseded by the amendment of November 7, 1950, of Section 11 of Article
VI of the State Constitution. See Note 18 supra. Footnotes 60-65 infra
all apply to the law as it existed before the amendment. References to
Article XI, Sec. 71/2 are to that Sec. 71/2 are to that Section as it
reads prior to its repeal in 1970.
60Repeal proposed by Board of Supervisor
February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984, filed with
Secretary of State August 9, 1984 and was given Charter Chapter No. 20.
61Repeal proposed by Board of Supervisors
February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984, filed with
Secretary of State August 9, 1984, and was given Charter No. 20.
62Repeal proposed by Board of Supervisors
February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984, filed with
Secretary of State August 9, 1984, and was given Charter No. 20.
63Repeal proposed by Board of Supervisors
February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984, filed with
Secretary of State August 9, 1984, and was given Charter No. 20.
66Additional duties are imposed upon the
County Counsel by Government Code Sections 27642, 27643, 27645, 27646 and
31529; Health and Safety Code, Sec. 34279; Penal Code, Sec. 934; Revenue
ad Taxation Code, Sec. 4986; Public Resources Code, Sec. 9266; Water
Code, Sec. 12887.0; Welfare and Institutions Code, Sec. 10002.
The County Counsel in
complying with this Section does not violate the provisions of the State
Bar Act, nor does the County practice law as a corporation where the
County Counsel represents the Public Administrator. Estate of Miller, 5
Cal. (2d) 588, 55 P. (2d) 491 (1936).
The latter portion of
Subdivision 4 of Sec. 4 (former Section 71/2) of Article XI is void
because inconsistent and repugnant to the general provision of the
Section of which it is a part. The County Charter may provide for powers
and duties. Decision based on "Home Rule" theory. Reuter v. Board of
Supervisors, 220 Cal. 314, 30 P. (2d) 417 (1934).
In Woolwine v. Superior
Court, 182 Cal. 388, P. 569 (1920), the court raised but did not decide
the question of whether those provisions of this article which are in
conflict with the general laws are rendered invalid by Sub. 4 of former
Sec. 71/2 of Article XI of the Constitution providing"....the provisions
of such charters relating to the powers and duties of Board of
Supervisors and all other county officers shall be subject to and
determined by General laws." In this particular case, the issue involved
those Sections of the charter giving control, despite the fact that the
County government law placed a duty of representing the county in such
actions upon the district attorney. See Gov. Code Sec. 26529.
The office of County Counsel
is a proper county office within the meaning of the constitution, and the
statute creating it is not a special law. Ogle v. Eckel, 49 Cal. App.
(2d) 599, 122 P. (2d) 67 (1942).
67The Board of Supervisors has no power to
cancel an assessment on a bank as to solvent credits owned, claimed,
possessed or controlled by it without the consent of the County Counsel
(Rev. & Tax Code Sec. 4986). Bank of America v. Board of Supervisors, 93
Cal. App. (2d) 75, 208 P. (2d) 772 (1949).
68Powers and duties of County Counsel
appointed pursuant to charter are not defined by Gov. Code Sec. 27642,
but such Counsel, not being appointed pursuant to such code provisions,
has only the powers and duties given him by charter.
Although this Section invests
the County Counsel with "exclusive charge and control of all civil
actions and proceedings in which the county or any officer thereof is
concerned or is a party," it is the duty of the District Attorney to
abate, when directed by the Board of Supervisor, that which constitutes a
public nuisance within the Red Light Abatement Act (Stats. 1913, P. 20,
Sec. 1-3; Gov. Code Sec. 26528; Code of Civ. Proc. (731). Board of
Supervisors of Los Angeles County v. Simpson, as District Attorney, 36
Cal. 671, 227 P. (2d) 14 (1925).
69The complaint of a taxpayer for accounting
of moneys paid by the County is subject to demurrer unless it is clearly
alleged therein that the District Attorney has refused to institute the
action to recover the alleged illegal expenditures. Hansen v. Carr, 73
Cal. App. 511, 238 P. 1048 (1925).
70In Keith v. Hammel, 29 Cal. App. 131, 154
P. 871 (1915), the Court construed this Section, in conjunction with
Section 21 of the Charter and Political Code Section 4041(16) now found
in Government Code Sec. 25203), to mean that the County shall be party to
actions and proceedings wherein it is concerned, and that the conduct of
such actions is committed to public officers. Thus a proceeding against
the sheriff to compel him to pay into the County Treasury certain fees he
has collected may not be prosecuted by a taxpayer until the officers in
control of litigation have refused to do so.
71The Public Administrator is a public
officer of the county, performing a governmental function, and he is
entitled to the legal services of the County Counsel where the charter so
provides. This provision of the charter authorizing the County Counsel
to collect statutory fees for such services and pay the same into the
Count Treasury is a proper charter provision under Sec. 4 (former Sec.
71/2 of Article XI of the Constitution. Estate of Miller, 5 Cal. (2d)
588, 55 P. (2d) 491 (1936), overruling Whelan v. Bailey, 1 Cal. App. (2d)
334, 36 P. (2d) 709 (1934).
The County Charter may
properly provide for the powers and duties of its officers, and may do
this without limitation by general law, hence it may provide that the
County Counsel shall act as attorney for its public administrator, who is
a public officer exercising a governmental function. Estate of Miller, 5
Cal. (2d) 588, 55 P. (2d) 491 (1936).
72This section does not preclude the Public
Administrator from employing a special counsel when, in his judgement, it
is desirable in a given case. Estate of Schnell, 82 Cal. App. (2d) 170,
185 P. (2d) 856 (1947).
73This Section "does not purport to be a
revenue measure in the interest of the county. It contemplates that the
County Counsel shall act, that is, do something in conducting the probate
proceedings." Thus where the County Counsel does not render the ordinary
legal services to the Public Administrator in a probate proceeding, he is
not entitled to the statutory fees. Estate of Murphy, 171 Cal. 697, 154
P. 839 (1916).
741966 Amendment. Amended by 1967 Stats.
Resolution Chap. 6.
751966 Addition. Added by 1967 Stats.
Resolution Chap. 6.
761966 Addition. Added by 1967 Stats.
Resolution Chap. 6.
771974 Amendment. Amended by 1975 Stats.
Resolution Chap. 135.
78The duties of the Public Defender have
been expanded considerably by Section 27706 of the Government Code as am.
Stats. 1965, Chap. 324, P. 1434; Stats. 1967 Chap. 123 P. 1147; Stats.
1970 Chap. 1627, P. 3438 at P. 3439 and Stats. 1972, Chap. 661.
79Repealed by Stats. 1945, Resolution Chap.
13, P. 2921.
801934 Addition. Added by Stats. 1935,
Resolution Chap. 31, P. 2440 at P. 2442.
811954 Addition. Added by 1955 Stats.
Resolution Chap. 20, P. 3788 at 3790.
81A1984 amendment proposed by Board of
Supervisors February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984,
filed with Secretary of State August 7, 1984, and was given Charter
Chapter No. 20.
82This Section, which follows the language
of former Section 71/2 of Article XI of the Constitution, subdivision 6,
was permissive and did not prescribe the only method for the formation of
road districts which the Board of Supervisors may use. The Road District
Improvement Act of 1907 (Act 3276 Derring's General Laws, Stats. 1907,
Chap. 442 P. 806) was neither repealed nor superseded by the Constitution
or charter, and, prior to its repeal (except for Section 26a), by Stats.
1933 Chap. 735, P. 1793 could be followed in the formation of road
districts. Thomas v. Pridham, 171 Cal. 98, 153 P. 933 (1915). The above
provision for road districts probably are obsolete. Sec. 4 which
replaced Sec. 71/2 of Article XI of the State Constitution makes no
provision for road districts. Section 1020 of the Streets and Highways
Code seems to be the only extant provision for road districts.
83Under this Section the supervisors are
relieved from caring for the roads in their respective districts. When
the supervisors have by appropriate general rules, regulations and
directions, provided for the maintenance and repair of the highways by
the road commissioner, in the absence of specific knowledge of his
failure to perform his duty in some particular case, they are relieved
from responsibility for the results of his negligence. Ham v. County of
Los Angeles, 46 Cal. App. 148, 189 P. 462 (1920).
83ARepeal proposed by Board of Supervisors
February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984, filed with
Secretary of State August 9, 1984, and was given Charter Chapter No. 20.
83BRepeal proposed by Board of Supervisors
February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984, filed with
Secretary of State August 9, 1984, and was given Charter Chapter No. 20.
841948 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1949,
Resolution Chap. 9, P. 2880.
1978 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1978, Charter Chap. 29.
851948 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1949,
Resolution Chap. 9, P. 2882.
1966 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1967, Resolution Chap. 6, P. 4339.
1974 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1975, Resolution Chap. 135, P.
3842.
1978 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1978, Charter Chap. 29.
861978 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1978,
Charter Chap. 29.
871948 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1949,
Resolution Chap. 9, P. 2882.
1976 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1976, Appendix Chap. 13, P. 32.
1978 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1978, Charter Chap. 29.
In Placer County Employees
Association v. Board of Supervisors, 233 Cal. App. (2d) 55, at 558, 43
Cal. Rptr. 782 (1965) the court discusses the reasons for exempt or
unclassified positions.
88County Counsel has opined that the
Director of Public Social Services remains in the classified services,
August 31, 1976.
891978 Addition. Added by Stats. 1978,
Charter Chap. 29.
901976 Addition. Added by Stats. 1976,
Appendix Chap. 13, P. 32.
911978 Addition. Added by Stats. 1978,
Charter Chap. 29.
921976 Addition. Added by Stats. 1976,
Appendix Chap. 13, P. 32.
93Repealed by Stats. 1978, Charter Chap. 29.
941978 Addition. Added by Stats. 1978,
Charter Chap. 29.
951940 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1941,
Resolution Chap. 2, P. 3235 and 3236.
1946 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1947, Resolution Chap. 11, P.
3361.
1948 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1949, Resolution Chap. 9, P. 2280.
1954 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1955, Resolution Chap. 20, P.
3788.
1972 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1972, Resolution Chap. 166, P.
3467.
1978 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1978, Charter Chap. 29
961978 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1978,
Charter Chap. 29.
971966 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1967,
Resolution Chap. 6, P. 4339.
1978 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1978, Charter Chap. 29.
981954 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1955,
Resolution Chap. 20, P. 3788.
99Repealed by Stats. 1978, Charter Chap. 29.
100Repealed by Stats. 1978, Charter Chap.
29.
101Repealed by Stats. 1978, Charter Chap.
29.
102Repealed by Stats. 1978, Charter Chap.
29.
1031958 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1959,
Resolution Chap 7, P. 5344.
County officers have the
right to appoint deputies and employees except as limited by the charter.
There are two limitations: (1) appointments must be made from a list of
three persons certified by the Civil Service Commission (Sec. 34, Subsec.
6); and (2) no appointment is to be based upon religious or political
opinions or affiliations (Sec. 41). The officer is limited in his power
to discharge in that the discharge may not be based upon an employee's
political or religious opinion, affiliation, and the officer must present
the deputy or employee with the reason for his discharge and give him a
reasonable time to reply thereto. No hearing was required by the charter
when this case was decided. Cronin v. Civil Service Commission, 71 Cal.
App. 633, 236 P. 339 (1925).
Neither this provision nor
the State or Federal Constitutions, however, prevent the Board of
Supervisors from investigating the charter, antecedents, the viewpoints
and affiliations of its employees, and it may demand of each employee an
oath of allegiance to the Federal and State Constitutions and the laws of
California as against all enemies of the United States and the state, and
an affidavit that he does not advocate the overthrow of the government by
force, or is not a member of organizations that advocate such overthrow;
refusal to give such oath and affidavit is a proper basis for discharge.
Steiner v. Darby, 88 Cal. App. (2d) 481, 199 P. (2d), 429 (1948); 338
U.S. 327, 94 L.Ed. 144, 70 S. Ct. 161 (1949). Note, however, Keyishian
v. Board of Regents, 385 U.S. 589, 87 S. Ct. 675, 17 L.Ed. (2d) 629
(1967); and Elfbrandt v. Russell, 384 U.S. 11, 86 S. Ct. 1238, 16 L.E.d.
(2d) 321 (1966).
"Nothing is to be found in
Section 41 intended to prevent an employer from discharging an employee
who advocates the overthrow of our government."
"The Section contains no
inhibition against the county's discharging an employee whose first
loyalty is to his ideal or armed revolution against the state that he
serves. The fact that his tenure is protected by civil service does not
avail him if he is disloyal."
"Section 41 refers to
politics and religion in their narrow connotations and not to such a
movement as champions the destruction of the government by violence."
Hirschman v. Los Angeles County, 39, Cal. (2d) 698, 249 P. (2d) 287
(1952).
Section 1028.1 of the
Government Code reads:
1028.1 It shall be the duty
of any public employee who may be subpoenaed or ordered by the governing
body of the state or local agency by which such employee is employed, to
appear before such governing body, or a committee or subcommittee
thereof, or by a duly authorized committee of the Congress of the United
States or of the Legislature of this State, or any subcommittee of any
such committee, to appear before such committee or subcommittee, and to
answer under oath a question or questions propounded by such governing
body, committee or subcommittee, or a member or counsel thereof, relating
to:
(a) Present personal advocacy
by the employee of the forceful or violent overthrow of the Government of
the United States or of any state.
(b) Present knowing membership
in any organization now advocating the forceful or violent overthrow of
the Government of the United States or of any state.
(c) Past knowing membership at
any time since October 3, 1945, in any organization which, to the
knowledge of such employees, during the time of the employee's
membership, advocated the forceful or violent overthrow of the Government
of the United States or of any state.
(d) Questions as to present
knowing membership of such employee in the Communist Party or as to past
knowing membership in the Communist Party at any time since October 3,
1934.
(e) Present personal advocacy
by the employee of the support of a foreign government against the United
States in the event of hostilities between said foreign government and
the United States.
Any employee who fails or
refuses to appear or to answer under oath on any ground whatsoever any
such questions so propounded shall be guilty of insubordination and
guilty of violating this Section and shall be suspended and dismissed
from his employment the manner provided by law.
Violation of this Section is
a ground for dismissal and a dismissal on such grounds is not for
political or religious opinions or affiliations. Globe v. County of Los
Angeles, 163 Cal. App. (2d) 595 at 599, 329 P. (2d) 971 (1958).
Nelson v. Los Angeles County,
362 U.S. 1, 80 S. Ct. 527, 4 L.Ed. (2d) 494 (1960); but of. Hofberg v.
Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission, 258 Cal. App. (2d) 433, 65
Cal. Rptr. 759 (1968).
104Repeal was proposed by Board of
Supervisors February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984,
filed with Secretary of State August 9, 1984, and was given Charter
Chapter No. 23.
105Repeal was proposed by Board of
Supervisors February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984,
filed with Secretary of State August 9, 1984, and was given Charter
Chapter No. 23.
1061958 Addition. Added by Stats. 1959,
Resolution Chap. 7, P. 5344.
1071972 Addition. Added by Stats. 1972,
Resolution Chap. 166, P. 3497.
1978 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1978, Charter Chap. 29
1081978 Amendment. Amended by Stats 1978,
Charter Chap. 28.
109This Section was construed in Walker v.
County of Los Angeles, 55 Cal. (2d) 626, 12 Cal. Rptr. 671 P. (2d) 247
(1961) and Williams v. County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Superior Court
No. 809416 (1963).
109AThis Provision was held
unconstitutional and preempted by state law in Los Angeles County
Federation of Labor v. County of Los Angeles, 160 Cal. App. 3d 905, 207
Cal. Rptr. 1 (1985) See also County Sanitation District No. 2 v. Los
Angeles County Employee's Assn., 38 Cal. 3d 564, 214 Cal. Rptr. 424
(1985).
109B1982 Addition. Proposed by Board of
Supervisors August 3, 1981, ratified at general election November 2,
1982, accepted by and filed with Secretary of State December 13, 1982,
published Stats. 1982, Charter Chap. 29.
1101958 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1959,
Resolution, Chap. 7, P. 5344 at 5346. Because of the provision of this
Section, Section 47 supra does not require that vacations in excess of
two weeks be granted. Wilson v. Board of Retirement, 156 Cal. App. (2d)
195 at 211, 319 P. (2d) 426 (1957).
1111978 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1978,
Charter Chap. 29.
112The amendment of the Butte County
Charter, consolidating offices and reducing the salary of the probation
officer is in violation of Article XII of said charter which prevents the
increase or decrease of compensation during the term of an elective or
appointive officer. (dictum) Bybee v. Richards, 134 Cal. App. 467, 35 P.
(2d) 472 (1933).
Where an elective township
officer entered into office at noon on a certain day, the Board of
Supervisors of San Bernardino County could not diminish his compensation
by an emergency ordinance passed afternoon on the same day, since Article
VIII, Section 1 of the San Bernardino County Charter provided that the
compensation of a township officer "shall not be increased or diminished
during the term for which such officer shall be elected or appointed."
Sawyer v. Berger, 34 Cal. App. 567, 168 P. 371 (1917).
The compensation of an
elective county officer cannot be increased during his term of office by
amendment to the charter since such an increase is in violation of
Section 9 of Article XI of the Constitution providing: "The compensation
of any county, city, town or municipal officer shall not be increased
after his election or during his term of office." Shay v. Roth, 64 Cal.
App. 314, 221 P. 967 (1923).
Where two amendments to the
Butte County Charter were adopted at the same election (1) that the
salary of the assessor should be reduced, and (2) that the compensation
elective officers should not be increased or decreased during the term
for which they were elected, it was held that the assessor's salary was
not to be reduced until the expiration of his term. Morton v. Richards,
134 Cal. App. 665, 26 P. (2d) 320 (1933).
Under a 1944 amendment to
former Section 5 (now repealed) of Article XI of the Constitution and
Deering Act 5625, Stats. 1945 Chap. 5, P. 316 passed pursuant thereto, a
county ordinance increasing salaries of elective officials during the war
and for a period of time after its termination is valid and applies to
existing incumbents notwithstanding this Section of the charter. Holland
v. Byram, 28 Cal. (2d) 567, 170 P. (2d) 938 (1946).
113The salary of an elective officer is the
amount fixed by the law in force on the 91st day prior to election.
Cline v. Lewis, 175 Cal. 315, 165 P. 915 (1917). See also County of Los
Angeles v. Hammel, 26 Cal. App. 580, 147 P. 983 (1915).
Such a provision if
constitutional. Pulcifer v. County of Alameda, 29 Cal. (2d) 258, 175 P.
(2d) (1946).
Former Section 5 (now
repealed of Article XI of the State Constitution and this Section "* * *
do not prohibit a salary increase for an officer elected to fill an
unexpired term where the increase is adopted a sufficient time prior to
the election to comply with any local provisions.* * *" McKesson v.
Lowery, 51 Cal. (2d) 660 at 663, 335 P. (2d) 662 at 664 (1959).
1141994 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1995,
Charter Chap. 8.
1151948 Amendment. Amended by Stats. 1949,
Resolution Chap. 9, P. 2880 at P. 2883.
116The Charter in its entirety contemplates
that as to elective officers made appointive by its provisions,
successors may be appointed at the expiration of their terms of office
to which they were elected. An officer elected under the provisions of
the general law cannot be removed pursuant to a subsequent charter
provision until the expiration of his office, but he may be removed
pursuant to the general law provisions. Hunt v. Superior Court, 178 Cal.
470, 173 P. 1097 (1918). This Section, together with the former
Constitution Section 71/2, Article XI, prevents either the removal from
or extension of the term of office under Charter provisions of an
elective officer holding office when the charter took effect.
117Fees Collected by the sheriff which he
is entitled to keep under Gov. Code Sec. 26749 are part of his
"compensation," and where the sheriff was elected before the adoption of
the charter, he is entitled to keep such fees until the expiration of
this term, despite Section 15, Article IV of the County of Los Angeles v.
Hammel, 26 Cal. App. 580, 147 P. 983 (1915)."
118Section 4 is limited by Section 56. All
elective county officers whose terms commenced before the charter went
into effect should during such terms continue to draw the salaries which
attached to such officers under the general laws of the state. Pridham
v. Lewis, 30 Cal. App. 395, 158 P. 333 (1916).
1191958 Addition. Added by Stats. 1959,
Resolution Chap. 7, P. 5344 at P. 5347.
In City of Pasadena v. County
of Los Angeles, 235 Cal. App. (2d) 153, 45 Cal. Rptr. 94 (1965) the court
upheld a contract whereby in consideration of monetary payments by the
County to the City, the City Health Officer performed the duties of the
County Health Officer within the boundaries of the City of Pasadena.
1201934 Addition. Added by Stats. 1935,
Resolution Chap. 31, P. 2440 at P. 2441.
1211954 Addition. Added by Stats. 1955,
Resolution Chap. 20, P. 3788 at P. 3791.
1221978 Addition. Added by Stats. 1978,
Charter Chap. 29.
123A charter is effective upon filing with
the Secretary of State, but may itself provide for a certain operative
date. 10 Ops. Atty. Gen. 1 (1947).
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