(a) Upon the effective date of this act, or when any county comes under it, all employees then in the sheriff’s office, whose positions are under the provisions of this act, shall be considered to be holding such positions temporarily and at the pleasure of the sheriff, until January 1, of the year next following the date upon which the county comes under the provisions of this act, on which date, unless such employee has elected to be classified under this act, his employment shall be terminated: Provided, That any employee of the sheriff’s department having the rating of class A patrolman or detective or serving in a permanent supervisory or administrative position on the effective date of this act, shall receive the status of permanent employee in the classified service with a comparable grade and classification, in which the duties and compensation are similar, without taking a competitive examination.

The civil service board shall proceed to prepare and administer competitive examinations for each of the classes in the classified service as rapidly as possible. Upon announcement of any examination for any class, or series of classes, employees whose positions have been allocated to such classes may apply for and take such examinations under the same conditions as all other competitors. Those persons who secure a passing grade on such examination shall then be subject to additional qualification by the board as to their character and integrity for the purpose of serving in the sheriff’s department. Upon qualification the successful candidates who have secured a passing final earned rating shall be placed on the eligible register for appointment by the sheriff in the appropriate classification and grade.

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Upon the establishment of eligible registers, the civil service board shall determine and designate which of the candidates were, on the effective date of this act and are employees of the sheriff’s department. If such employee has secured a passing final earned rating upon the examination, his name shall be forthwith certified to the sheriff, and he shall be appointed to the applicable grade and classification.

If an incumbent employee shall fail to attain a passing final earned rating, notification of such fact shall be submitted to the sheriff and such failing employee shall be separated from the service not later than thirty (30) days thereafter.

(b) Upon the effective date of this act, in any county first coming within its provisions, any employee of the sheriff’s department having the rating of class A patrolman or detective or serving in a permanent supervisory or administrative position on the effective date of this act, shall receive the status of permanent employee in the classified service with a comparable grade and classification, in which the duties and compensation are similar, without taking a competitive examination, the undersheriff in such sheriff’s office shall be given a permanent grade or class of captain, or its equivalent, in the classified service and shall be granted leaves of absences under the provisions of subsection (c) of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 19-4325.