ABOLISHED 10/23/2014 PER PAY LETTER 15-07 - Investigator, Fair Political Practices Commission Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established December 3, 1975

Scope

This series specification describes the Investigator, Fair Political Practices Commission, classes used by the Fair Political Practices Commission to perform special investigations to assure compliance with the Political Reform Act of 1974 and related statutes and regulations administered or enforced by the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Definition of Series

Incumbents conduct or supervise complex and sensitive investigations at the State or local level to detect or verify suspected violations of laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the Political Reform Act of 1974, and related statutes; review and examine financial documents filed with the Secretary of State and the Fair Political Practices Commission such as campaign disclosure statements, lobbyist disclosure reports, or statements of economic interest to secure or verify information concerning suspected violations or violators, and initiate investigations based on these documents; pursue and investigate complaints filed with the Fair Political Practices Commission; contact and interview individuals, both in and out of State Government, and representatives from business or other concerned organizations and entities; take statements, depositions, affidavits, and testimony and evaluate evidence; examine records, collect, assemble, and analyze data and report facts and evidence to support administrative or legal action; explain provisions of the Political Reform Act of 1974 and related statutes and regulations; serve legal papers, file complaints, prepare cases and appear as witnesses to present testimony in legal and administrative actions; work closely with and secure the cooperation of Federal, State, and local governmental agencies concerned with administration of or compliance with the Political Reform Act; prepare reports of investigations and recommend action.

Definition of Levels

Investigator I, Fair Political Practices Commission

This is the first journey level class. Under general direction, incumbents are assigned the less complex and sensitive investigations to detect or verify suspected violations of laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the Political Reform Act of 1974; investigate complaints filed with the Fair Political Practices Commission; examine a variety of legal records to secure and verify information concerning suspected violations or violators; contact and interview parties involved in complaints or suspected violations; obtain, analyze, evaluate, and present facts, statements, affidavits, and other evidence to support administrative or legal action; appear as witnesses at legal or administrative proceedings; explain provisions of the Political Reform Act of 1974 and related statutes and regulations; cooperate with and secure the cooperation of Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies; prepare correspondence, reports of investigations, and recommend action to be taken.

Investigator II, Fair Political Practices Commission

This is the full journey level class in the series. Under direction, incumbents are assigned the more difficult, complex, and sensitive investigations; instruct, advise, and work with staff in performing investigations of suspected violations of the Political Reform Act of 1974 and related statutes and regulations; review and evaluate reports; serve legal papers, file complaints, prepare cases, and appear as witnesses in court of administrative hearings; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with Federal, State and local officials, and agencies concerned with administration of or compliance with the Political Reform Act of 1974; prepare reports and correspondence. Incumbents may work alone and have independent responsibility for an entire investigation program in an assigned area, or conduct and participate in the more difficult, complex, sensitive, or confidential investigations.

Investigator III (Specialist), Fair Political Practices Commission

This is the advanced journey level class in the series. Incumbents at this level are distinguished from lower lever Investigators�I or II by the level of difficulty of cases given to incumbents and the expertise which the incumbent brings to these assignments. Under general direction, incumbents are assigned the most difficult, complex and sensitive cases with wide discretion and independence of action. Investigative assignments include:��conflicts of interest violations; campaign contribution laundering violations; cases where there are strong suspicion of intentional misconduct; complex financial transactions; circumstantial evidence with conflicting testimony; and the most sensitive cases regarding high level State and local officials. Incumbents train less experienced staff in advanced investigatory techniques including fact finding, interviewing, evaluation of information and evidence; and act in a lead capacity when workload dictates.

Supervising Investigator, Fair Political Practices Commission

This is the full supervisory level. Under general direction, incumbents are assigned to:��direct, supervise, review, and evaluate the work of a bureau of Investigators�I or Investigators�II in the performance of assigned investigations; review and evaluate findings of staff and make recommendations as to which cases will be handled through civil or administrative proceedings; advise and assist Investigators with complex and sensitive investigations; instruct staff members in advanced investigatory techniques such as fact finding, interviewing, evaluation of information and evidence, and preparation of cases; evaluate the performance of investigative employees and take appropriate action; and may occasionally conduct the most difficult and complex cases with wide discretion and independence of action; and prepare reports and correspondence.

Chief Investigator, Fair Political Practices Commission

Under administrative direction, the incumbent plans, organizes, and directs the work of a statewide investigative unit which has the responsibility for investigating alleged violations of the Political Reform Act of 1974; is responsible for program development and policy and procedure formulation; establishes procedures to ensure the uniform application and interpretation of the laws, rules, and regulations of the Commission; establishes uniform standards for investigations and investigative reports; develops and maintains cooperative working relationships and coordinates investigations with other divisions of the Commission staff, other local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies and with organizations affected by the Political Reform Act; confers with Commission attorneys and executive staff on problems requiring policy decisions or legal opinions, and assumes whatever additional administrative functions are deemed necessary by the Chief of the Enforcement Division; may act for the Chief in the Chief's absence.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience applicable to one of the following patterns may be combined on a proportional basis with experience applicable to the other to meet the total experience requirement. Experience in California state service applied toward "Pattern�II" must include the same number of years of qualifying experience as required in "Pattern�I" performing duties of a class with a level of responsibility not less than that described in "Pattern�I".

Investigator I, Fair Political Practices Commission

Either I

In the California state service either:

1. One year of experience performing the duties of a Special Investigator�I; or

2. Two years of experience as an Investigator Assistant.

Or II

Experience: Three years of investigative experience in civil or criminal law enforcement work in a governmental agency at least one year of which must have involved complete responsibility for difficult and complex cases.

Investigator II, Fair Political Practices Commission

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing investigative duties at a level of responsibility equivalent to Investigator�I, Fair Political Practices Commission.

Or II

Four years of investigative experience in civil or criminal law enforcement work in a governmental agency, at least one year of which must have involved complete responsibility for difficult and complex cases.

Investigator III (Specialist), Fair Political Practices Commission

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Investigator�II, Fair Political Practices Commission.

Or II

Experience: Five years of investigative experience in civil or criminal law enforcement work in a governmental agency, at least two years of which must have involved complete responsibility for the most complex and sensitive cases.

Supervising Investigator, Fair Political Practices Commission

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Investigator�II, Fair Political Practices Commission.

Or II

Experience: Five years of investigative experience in civil or criminal law enforcement work in a governmental agency, at least two years of which must have involved complete responsibility for the most complex and sensitive cases.

Chief Investigator, Fair Political Practices Commission

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Supervising Investigator, Fair Political Practices Commission or Investigator�III (Specialist), Fair Political Practices Commission.

Or II

Two years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Investigator�II, Fair Political Practices Commission.

Or III

Experience: Five years of investigative experience in civil or criminal law enforcement work in a city, county, State, or Federal agency, at least two years of which must have involved (1)�complete responsibility for the more difficult and complex cases, and (2)�administrative experience including directing and evaluating the work of subordinate staff; and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.)

Knowledge and Abilities

Investigator I, Fair Political Practices Commission

Knowledge of: Basic investigation techniques and procedures; principles and techniques of securing, identification, preservation, and presentation of evidence; service of legal process; interviewing techniques; functions and responsibilities of Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies contacted in the course of the work; provisions of the Political Reform Act of 1974 and related statutes and regulations administered or enforced by the Fair Political Practices Commission; report writing and preparation of concise and complete reports.

Ability to: Conduct investigations and detect and verify suspected violations; obtain information and evidence by observation, document and record examination, and interview; analyze and evaluate statements of witnesses or suspected violators and weigh facts impartially and accurately; prepare concise and complete reports; secure and present evidence in oral or written form; interpret and apply to specific cases the provisions of the Political Reform Act of 1974 and related statutes and regulations administered or enforced by the Fair Political Practices Commission; establish and maintain effective relationships with citizens and public officials under conditions requiring tact and good judgment; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; prepare correspondence; serve subpoenas; speak and write effectively.

A greater degree of these knowledge and abilities is required at each higher level.

Investigator II, Fair Political Practices Commission

Knowledge of: All of the above, and the more sophisticated investigative and interview techniques, processes and procedures, and terminology used by persons involved in the political process.

Ability to: All of the above, and plan and conduct the more sensitive and complex investigations; coordinate the work of others and give guidance and counsel in work methods and procedures.

Investigator III (Specialist), Fair Political Practices Commission

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles, techniques, methods and the most sophisticated investigative and interviewing techniques; and advanced training techniques and methods.

Ability to: All of the above, and plan and conduct the most difficult, complex and sensitive investigations; and train less experienced staff in advanced investigatory techniques.

Supervising Investigator, Fair Political Practices Commission

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles and techniques of personnel management and supervision; Commission's Affirmative Action Program objectives; a manager's role in the Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.

Ability to: All of the above, and may occasionally plan, organize, and conduct the most complex and sensitive investigations; and effectively supervise the work of a bureau of Investigators�I and II; effectively contribute to the Commission's affirmative action objectives.

Chief Investigator, Fair Political Practices Commission

Knowledge of: All of the above, and current administration policies of the Enforcement Division and the Agency.

Ability to: All of the above, and plan, organize, and direct the work of an investigative staff on a statewide basis.

Special Personal Characteristics

All Levels:

Willingness to travel throughout the State, and work long and irregular hours.

Additional Desirable Qualifications

All Levels:

In addition to the above minimum qualifications, knowledge and/or experience with accounting, legal records, campaigns, elections, lobbyist activities, and/or California state and local government; and four years of college level course work in police science, law enforcement, or criminology.

Class History