(a) 
A program is hereby established for recognition of continuous full time service to the County by officers and employees of the County. Service awards shall be presented after ten (10), fifteen (15), twenty (20), twenty five (25), thirty (30), thirty five (35) and forty (40) years of continuous full time service to the County.
(b) 
In determining the length of service of an officer or employee for the purpose of service awards, only continuous full time service to the County shall be considered and continuous full time service shall mean a period during which the officer or employee has been employed by the County in a full time permanent position without a break or interruption. A period of employment as a provisional, temporary, part time, extra help or flat rate employee shall constitute a break in continuous full time service.
(c) 
Leaves of absence granted pursuant to State law or this Ordinance Code shall not be deemed to constitute a break in continuous full time service to the County, but the period of time that the officer or employee is absent from duties on such a leave of absence shall not be included when determining the length of continuous full time service, except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) below.
(d) 
Leaves of absence for military purposes granted pursuant to State law shall not be deemed to constitute a break in continuous full time service to the County, and the period of time that the officer or employee is absent from duties on such a military leave of absence shall be included when determining the length of continuous full time service.
(e) 
All continuous full time service to the Tulare Kings Counties Hospital prior to the 1st day of September, 1964, shall be deemed to have been service to the County for the purpose of service awards.
(f) 
The length of continuous full time service to the County shall be determined by the Human Resources and Development Director. The length of continuous full time service of an officer or employee prior to May 1, 1947, shall be ascertained from the records of the Tulare County Employees' Retirement Association. The length of continuous full-time service of an officer or employee after May 1, 1947, shall be ascertained from the records of the Human Resources and Development Department.
(Amended by Ord. No. 3633, effective 12-28-23)
After the end of each calendar year, the Human Resources and Development Director shall certify those employees who became eligible to receive service awards during the calendar year and shall requisition the service awards required for presentation. Service awards for ten (10) years service shall be presented to the employees earning them by their department heads. Service awards for fifteen (15) years of service or more shall be presented by the Board of Supervisors.
(Amended by Ord. No. 3633, effective 12-28-23)