HLS 12RS-4382 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 150
BY REPRESENTATIVE PUGH
CIVIL SERVICE/FIRE & POL: Requests the House Committee on Municipal, Parochial
and Cultural Affairs to study the impact of filling vacancies in the classified police
service in a certain manner
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request the House Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs to2
study the impact of filling vacancies in certain positions in the classified police3
service on a competitive basis through the selection and appointment of a person4
with one of the five highest test scores and to report its findings to the House of5
Representatives prior to the convening of the 2013 Regular Session of the6
Legislature of Louisiana.7
WHEREAS, Article X, Section 16 of the Constitution of Louisiana establishes a8
system of classified fire and police civil service in each municipality having a population9
exceeding thirteen thousand and operating a regularly paid fire and municipal police10
department and in each parish and fire protection district operating a regularly paid fire11
department; and12
WHEREAS, R.S. 33:2471 and 2531 et seq. establish classified civil service systems13
for policemen and firemen employed in municipalities with a population of not less than14
seven thousand and not more than two hundred fifty thousand persons according to the latest15
federal decennial census and in all parishes and fire protection districts; and16
WHEREAS, R.S. 33:2491 and 2551 require municipal fire and police civil service17
boards to establish and maintain employment lists containing the names of persons eligible18
for appointment to the various classes of positions in the classified service; and19 HLS 12RS-4382 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 150
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WHEREAS, pursuant to R.S. 33:2491 and 2551, the names of persons attaining a1
passing score on a promotion test must be placed upon the promotional employment list for2
the class for which they were tested, from highest to lowest, according to their total seniority3
in the departmental service and the names of persons attaining a passing score on a4
competitive test must be placed upon the competitive employment list for the class for which5
they were tested, from highest to lowest, according to their final test scores; and6
WHEREAS, R.S. 33:2494 and 2554 provide for filling vacancies in positions in the7
classified fire and police civil service from promotional and competitive employment lists;8
and 9
WHEREAS, pursuant to current law, an appointing authority is required to fill10
vacancies in the classified police service for positions with the rank of sergeant, lieutenant,11
captain, major, or commander from a promotional employment list and appointments are12
granted to persons with the greatest seniority in the departmental service; and13
WHEREAS, many argue that a better method would be to fill such vacancies on a14
competitive basis from a list of eligibles as provided in R.S. 33:2491 and 2551 and that15
appointments should be awarded to a person who has one of the five highest test scores; and16
WHEREAS, many also argue that the right of selection and appointment for such17
positions should be vested in the chief of police and subject to the approval of the appointing18
authority.19
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the20
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the House Committee on Municipal,21
Parochial and Cultural Affairs to study the impact of filling vacancies in certain positions22
in the classified police service on a competitive basis through the selection and appointment23
of a person with one of the five highest test scores.24
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall specifically solicit the input,25
recommendations, and advice of those who can provide relevant information and suggestions26
to the committee based on their expertise and experience, including but not limited to the27
following:28
(1) A representative of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police.29
(2) A representative of the Baton Rouge Union of Police.30 HLS 12RS-4382 ORIGINAL
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(3) A representative of the Louisiana Chapter of the AFL-CIO.1
(4) A representative of the Louisiana Union of Police Association.2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all departments, boards, agencies, officers, and3
institutions of the state and all subdivisions thereof shall cooperate with the committee in4
providing information to assist the committee in carrying out its responsibility pursuant to5
this Resolution.6
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall report the results of its study7
and its recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the House of Representatives8
of the Legislature of Louisiana by March 1, 2013.9
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Pugh HR No. 150
Requests the House Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs to study the
impact of filling vacancies in certain positions in the classified police service on a
competitive basis through the selection and appointment of a person with one of the five
highest test scores.
Provides that the committee shall solicit the input, recommendations, and advice of those
who can provide relevant information and suggestions to the committee based upon their
expertise and experience, including but not limited to:
(1)A representative of the La. Association of Chiefs of Police.
(2)A representative of the Baton Rouge Union of Police.
(3)A representative of the La. Chapter of the AFL-CIO.
(4)A representative of the La. Union of Police Association.
Requires all state departments, boards, agencies, officers, and institutions and all
subdivisions of the state to cooperate with the committee in providing information to assist
the committee.
Requires that the committee report the results of its study and its recommendations,
including proposed legislation, to the House of Representatives by March 1, 2013.