(a) This section applies only in Harford County.
(b) (1) The salary for the Sheriff of Harford County is equal to the salary of a Department of State Police lieutenant colonel, at the highest available step for a lieutenant colonel under the Department of State Police pay plan in effect on the day prior to the day that the Sheriff begins a term of office.
(2) Any change in the salary paid under the Department of State Police pay plan during the term of office of the Sheriff may not apply to the incumbent Sheriff, but the changed rate shall take effect at the beginning of the next following term of office.
(c) The Sheriff may not have employment outside of that position unless:
(1) The employment is a part–time teaching position; and
(2) The total maximum yearly income from the outside employment under this subsection is $2,500 or less.
(d) The Sheriff shall appoint the number of deputies at the compensation provided in the county budget.
(e) (1) The Sheriff may appoint as a special deputy sheriff:
(i) The chief of police of a Harford County municipality; or
(ii) A member of the police force of a Harford County municipality who is certified by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission.
(2) A special deputy sheriff appointed under this subsection is not an employee of the Sheriff or of the county.
(f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, an employee of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office may not be terminated without just cause.
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply to:
(i) The chief deputy;
(ii) A lieutenant colonel or major;
(iii) The secretary for the Sheriff;
(iv) A deputy or employee on probationary status; or
(v) The warden of the Harford County Detention Center.
(g) (1) A lieutenant colonel or major serves at the pleasure of the Sheriff.
(2) A lieutenant colonel, major, or captain may not be reduced below the rank of lieutenant without just cause.
(h) The Sheriff shall have the authority to formulate and administer a plan that includes the method of supervision to use incarcerated individuals from the Harford County Detention Center the Sheriff deems eligible and selects to perform, under the supervision of State, county, or municipal employees, tasks the Sheriff assigns within the county or any incorporated municipality within the county.
(i) (1) This subsection applies only to all full–time deputy sheriffs in the Sheriff’s Office at the rank of captain and below.
(2) Sworn law enforcement officers subject to this subsection shall have the right to organize and negotiate with the Harford County Executive and the Sheriff with regard to wages and employee health care premium share not regulated by the Sheriff.
(3) Unless otherwise provided in this subsection, the right to organize and negotiate shall be conducted in accordance with §§ 38–5 through 38–8 of Chapter 38, Article I of the Harford County Code.
(4) The terms of any agreement with regard to wages and employee health care premium share not regulated by the Sheriff shall be set forth in a memorandum of agreement entered into between the Sheriff, the County Executive, and the employee organization.
(5) An agreement with regard to wages and employee health care premium share not regulated by the Sheriff is not effective until the agreement is ratified by:
(i) The Sheriff;
(ii) The County Executive; and
(iii) The employee organization.
(6) A modification to an existing memorandum of agreement is not valid unless the modification is in writing and ratified by:
(i) The Sheriff;
(ii) The County Executive; and
(iii) The employee organization.
(7) If the Sheriff, the County Executive, and the employee organization are unable to reach an agreement by the dates set in Chapter 38, Article I of the Harford County Code, the procedures set forth in § 38–8(b) of the Harford County Code shall apply, with the County Executive and the employee organization as parties to the proceedings described under § 38–8(b) of the Harford County Code.
(j) (1) This subsection applies only to all full–time correctional officers in the Sheriff’s Office at the rank of captain and below.
(2) Correctional officers subject to this subsection shall have the right to organize and negotiate with the County Executive and the Sheriff with regard to wages and employee health care premium share not regulated by the Sheriff.
(3) Unless otherwise provided in this subsection, the right to organize and negotiate shall be conducted in accordance with §§ 38–5 through 38–8 of Chapter 38, Article I of the Harford County Code.
(4) The terms of any agreement with regard to wages and employee health care premium share not regulated by the Sheriff shall be set in a memorandum of agreement entered into between the Sheriff, the County Executive, and the employee organization.
(5) An agreement with regard to wages and employee health care premium share not regulated by the Sheriff is not effective until the agreement is ratified by:
(i) The Sheriff;
(ii) The County Executive; and
(iii) The employee organization.
(6) A modification to an existing memorandum of agreement is not valid unless the modification is in writing and ratified by:
(i) The Sheriff;
(ii) The County Executive; and
(iii) The employee organization.
(7) If the Sheriff, the County Executive, and the employee organization are unable to reach an agreement by the dates set in Chapter 38, Article I of the Harford County Code, the procedures set forth in § 38–8(b) of the Harford County Code shall apply, with the County Executive and the employee organization as parties to the proceedings described under § 38–8(b) of the Harford County Code.