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Home My WebLink About03-055RESOLUTION NO. 03-55 A RESOL-~TION AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 86-173, AS AMENDED, BY AMEI~-DING THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK FOR EMPLOYEES OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, has made the following determination: By Resolut:on No. 86-173, adopted September 16, 1986, and subsequent'y amended, the Board of County Commissioners adopted the Employee Handbook for employees of St. Lucie County in order to update personnel policies to reflect changes in the federal and state law and prcvide each employee with essential information regarding personnel policies and benefits. It is necessary to further amend Resolution No. 86-173 to update Section 4-4.12 E-mail and Internet Policy. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, as follows: Resolution No. 86-173 is hereby amended to incorporate the amendments to the Employee Handbook, entitled "4.12 E-mail and Internet Policy", attached hereto and incorporated herein. This resolulion shall be effective as 0fMarch 1, 2003, for all non- bargaining ~11 time and part time with limited benefits employees. After motion and second, the vote on this resolution and notice of election was as follows: Chairman Cliff Barnes AYg Vice Chairman Paula Lewis AYg Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson AYg Commissioner Doug Coward AYg Commissioner Joan Bruhn ABSENT PASSED AN DULY ADOPTED this 11th day of March, 2003. "'-i ":?'..BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS '..::7:~r. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA Del~u~ty Clerk ~/ ~5>~'~'~:~v~' / Chairman APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: iorney 4.12 EMAIL AND INTERqET POLICY Tt is the County's policy that the County's electronic mail system (email) and Internet system may be used only for County business purposes. INTERNETPO~CY Internet access provided to St. Lucia County employees is intended to facilitate County business objectives for em1>loyees and other business associates for reference, research and/or other work related tasks. The goal of this policy is to maximize and ensure proper use of this resource. All St. Lucia County information technology and communications systems, including the Tnternet connection, are St. Lucia County property and are intended for County business use only. The St. Lucia County Internet connection shall not be used for employee personal reasons or personal gain or to access, support or advocate non-County related business or for other non-bus ness purposes. All related ]~nternet connection data, including materials created, received or transmitted within the system are the property of St. Lucia County. The County, througl~ its managers and supervisors, will review the contents of an individual's Internet activity whenever necessary for County business purposes. Employees who misuse Tnternet connection privileges shall be sub~ect to progressive discipline up to and including discharge. Department directors are responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the policy within their departments. Department directors (or their designees) are to determine adherence to policy by their entire staff. Each Department director shall provide every staff member, contractor, part-time employee, volunteer, or other individuals who are provided access to St. Lucia County Internet connection with a copy of this policy. The attached policy acknowledgment form must be signed by the individual and shall be maintained in their Human Resource file or in the case of a non-employee, wherever designated by the Department director. In the event that any department or division policy contradicts this policy, this policy shall govern. 9. County reserves rig? t to deny access to any employee or outside contractor. Confidentiality Although confidential passwords are issued, users should be aware that this does not suggest that the system is for personal confidential access or communication, nor does it suggest that access to and use of the 5t Lucia County Znternet connection is the property right of the employee. Prohibited Uses The St. Lucia County Interrmt connection shall under no circumstances be used to: 5olicit, proselytize or participate in commercial ventures, religious or political causes, unauthorized outside organizations, or any other non County job related solicitation or participation. Create, access or transmit any obscene, disruptive, slanderous, defamatory, derogatory, or otherwise offensive information. Among that which would be considered offensive information in text, image or sound format which contain sexual implications, racial slurs, gender specific comments, or any other comment or material that offensively addresses someone's age, sexual orientation, religious or political beliefs, national origin, or disability. 3. Transmit copies of any document in violation of copyright laws. Transmit material wF ich is specifically exempted from public inspection under Florida Law. For example, personal information (telephone, address, social security numbers) for law enforcement officers, firefighters, code enforcement officers or judges. 5. Comprises the integrity of St. Lucia County or St. Lucia County resources in any way. Applicability This St. Lucia Counl~ internet connection policy applies to all employees, contractors, part-time employees volunteers, and other individuals who are provided access to St. Lucia County's ]~nternet connection except via tl~e Library System's connection. Third parties should only be provided access to the St. Lucia County Internet connection as necessary for their business purpose with the County, and then only if they agree to abide )y all applicable rules. Contractors and third-party users who are in violation of this policy may lose their Internet connection privileges and/or have their contract revoked. Additional legal remedies may also be pursued. Management & Employees Access Rights St. Lucia County supervisors or management, or their designees may access an employee's Internet file while employees are on leave of absence, vacation, are transferred from one department to another deportment or whenever they deem necessary for the County's business purposes. Former employees hove no special access rights to their St. Lucia County Internet connection records other than a public records request for records within their retention per/od. Laws and Penalties The misuse of Internet connection privileges by an employee shall subject the offender to progressive discipline up to and including discharge. ]~n addition, violations of this policy or misuse of the St. Lucia County Znternet connection may be referred for criminal prosecution. ELECTRONIC MAIL ,SYS-EM All electronic mail messages are the property of the County and are subject to monitoring by the County. As deemed necessary to conduct County business, the County shall provide access to its electronic mail system to external users such as: consultants, other governmental employees, special task force members and others, os described below. Zndividuals under paid contract service by County Departments may be authorized to participate in the County's electronic mail system. This authorization must be in writing and a copy must be filed in the ];nformation Technology Department. Use of the County's electronic mail system is limited to the term of the contract or such reasonable period os deemed necessary for such use whichever ends first. Authorization for use must be revalidoted in writing by Division Managers at least annually. Unless included as one of t~e specific exemptions described in the Public Records law, the County must provide a requested electronic moil to any person upon request. ST. LUCRE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMM:I:$SlONER$ EMATL & ]:NTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POL.I:CY User Acknowledgment have read and hereby acknowledge and accept the terms of the St. Lucia County Email and ]:nternet Policy and agree to abide by its conditions as written whenever using the St. Lucia County E ~ail and Internet system. Type or print name Signature bate