ADOPTED - MARCH 23, 2004

Agenda Item No. 23

Introduced by the Judiciary, County Services, and Finance Committees of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION REGARDING CREATION OF A POSITION OF ATTORNEY/REFEREE

WITHIN THE JUVENILE DIVISION/FAMILY COURT AND AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT AMENDMENT TO THE CIRCUIT COURT/FAMILY DIVISION 2003/04 CHILD CARE FUND BUDGET

RESOLUTION #04-93

WHEREAS, Michigan law mandates that certain hearings within the Family Court be held only by a legally trained, licensed referee; and

WHEREAS, recent legislation (Binsfield legislation, revisions in juvenile code, federal regulation, court rule modifications) has created additional responsibilities within the Family Court structure and the Juvenile Division, which have greatly increased the number of hearings that need to be held; and

WHEREAS, the failure to hold such hearings in a timely manner as mandated by law, fully addressing the issues with reference to the custody and detention of the child impose severe financial penalties upon the County if these mandates are not met; and

WHEREAS, the three present positions of intake referees (lay persons) now have additional responsibilities to apply and implement the newly adopted risk assessment processes for Ingham County, and no longer have sufficient time to devote to assist the Court in the referee process, (in addition to lacking the necessary legal qualifications); and

WHEREAS, Human Resources has evaluated the proposed new position, and new job description and has established the appropriate salary grade level.

THEREFOR BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the 30th Circuit Court/Family Division request and authorizes the creation of one (1) new Attorney Referee/Circuit Court position within the Family Division of Circuit Court effective April 1, 2004 under a new job description approved by the Human Resources Department and the OPEIU contractual salary benefit range.

Attorney Referee/Circuit Court Salary Range: $63,611 - $76,360

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2005 collective bargaining agreement between Ingham County, 30^th Judicial Circuit Court/Family Division, and the Office and Professional Employees International Union, Local 459, AFL-CIO for the Circuit Court/Family Division Professional Employees be amended to incorporate this new position and its corresponding salary range.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners authorizes amending the 2003/04 Child Care Fund contract with an increase of $43,750, in personnel expenses and up to $4,000 for office equipment/furniture with a corresponding increase of revenues from the Juvenile Justice Millage in the amount of $25,875 and from the State Child Care Fund in the amount of $21,875 and further authorizes the Controller to make the necessary budget adjustments and Position Allocation List amendment in the Circuit Court 2003/04 Child Care Fund Budget.

ADOPTED - MARCH 23, 2004

Agenda Item No. 23

RESOLUTION #04-93

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that approval of this request for the period April 1 through September 30, 2004 shall create no expectation of the continuation of the position in the 2004 budget; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the level of personnel hours required in continuing implementation of the new assessment process shall be evaluated further prior to the 2005 budget process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that consideration of whether to allocate funds for such a position in 2005 shall be made only as part of the County's broader determination of priorities in the needs of the juvenile justice system.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chairperson of the Board and the County Clerk are hereby authorized to sign any necessary contract documents consistent with this resolution and approved as to form by the County Attorney.

JUDICIARY: Yeas: Weatherwax-Grant, Holman, Lynch, Grebner, Stid, Schafer

Nays: None Absent: None Approved 3/11/04

COUNTY SERVICES: Yeas: Swope, Thomas, De Leon, Hertel

Nays: Severino, Nevin Absent: None Approved 3/16/04

FINANCE: Yeas: Lynch, Dedden, De Leon, Thomas

Nays: Minter Absent: Grebner Approved 3/17/04