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)]
HB 503 Original 2016 Regular Session Leopold
Abstract: Authorizes a city, parish, or city-parish that has implemented a classified system of
employment through an election to call and hold another election for the purpose of
submitting to qualified electors the question of whether or not the city, parish, or city-parish
shall continue to implement the classified system of employment.
Present constitution (Art. X, Part I) establishes the city civil service system and includes all persons
holding offices and positions of trust or employment in the employ of each city having over four
hundred thousand population and in every instrumentality thereof. Provides for the exclusion of paid
firemen and municipal policemen. Provides that the city civil service is divided into the unclassified
and the classified service. Provides for those included within the unclassified service. Establishes
a department of city civil service in each city.
Present constitution provides that permanent appointments and promotions in the classified city civil
service shall be made only after certification by the department of civil service under a general
system based upon merit, efficiency, fitness, and length of service, as ascertained by examination
which, so far as practical, shall be competitive. Provides that no person who has gained permanent
status in the city civil service shall be subject to disciplinary action, except for cause expressed in
writing. Provides that such person shall have the right of appeal before the commission.
Present constitution vests the commission with broad and general rulemaking and subpoena powers
for the administration and regulation of the classified service, including the power to adopt rules
regulating employment, promotion, demotion, and compensation and disbursements and also the
power to adopt a uniform pay and classification plan.
Proposed constitutional amendment retains present constitution.
Present constitution authorizes each city having a population exceeding 10,000 but not exceeding
400,000, each parish, and each parish governed jointly with one or more cities under a plan of
government having a population exceeding 10,000, to elect to be governed by the provisions of
present constitution if approved by a majority of its electors voting at an election held for that
purpose. Requires that the election be ordered and held upon either of the following:
(1)Adoption of an ordinance by the governing authority calling the election.
(2)Presentation to the governing authority of a petition calling for such an election signed by
electors equal in number to 5% of the registered voters of the city, parish, or city-parish. Proposed constitutional amendment retains present constitution.
Proposed constitutional amendment authorizes each city, parish, or city-parish that has elected to be
governed by present constitution to hold another election for the purpose of allowing the qualified
electors to determine if the city, parish, or city-parish shall continue to be governed by present
constitution. Provides that no such election can be held within three years of the date of the election
to be governed by present constitution.
Proposed constitutional amendment provides that if a majority of the qualified electors voting on the
proposition at an election held for that purpose determine that the city, parish, or city-parish shall no
longer be governed by present constitution, then the provisions shall no longer be applicable.
Prohibits the governing authority from taking any action if a majority of the qualified electors
determine that the city, parish, or city-parish shall continue to be governed by present constitution
and provides that no election may be held for the purpose of submitting the same proposition to the
qualified electors for at least three years from the date of the election.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election to be held
Nov. 8, 2016.
(Amends Const. Art. X, §14(B); Adds Const. Art. X, §14(D))