HLS 18RS-29 ENGROSSED
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 70
BY REPRESENTATIVE JENKINS
CIVIL SERVICE/FIRE & POL: Provides relative to the classified fire service in the city
of Shreveport
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 33:2495.3(A), relative to the classified fire service; to provide
3 relative to persons selected for appointment to entry-level positions in the city of
4 Shreveport; to provide relative to the formal training of such persons; and to provide
5 for related matters.
6 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
7 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
8 Louisiana.
9Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 33:2495.3(A) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
11 §2495.3. Recruit and recruit period; certain municipalities
12 A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in the cities
13 of Baton Rouge, Bossier City, and Lafayette, and Shreveport no person selected for
14 appointment to an entry-level position in the classified service from the competitive
15 firefighter employment list who has not successfully completed formal training as
16 required by Subsection B of this Section shall begin the working test period.
17 However, such person shall be employed by the appointing authority and reported
18 as a recruit and shall immediately begin his formal training.
19 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 18RS-29 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 70
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 70 Engrossed 2018 Regular Session Jenkins
Abstract: Relative to the classified fire service, requires persons selected for appointment
to an entry-level position as a firefighter in the city of Shreveport to complete a fire
training academy prior to the start of the working test period.
Present constitution creates a fire and police civil service system applicable to municipalities
of over 13,000 in population and parishes and fire protection districts. Provides that the
system is subject to Art. XIV, §15.1 of the 1921 constitution made statutory by the 1974
constitution.
Present law creates and provides for two fire and police civil service systems: (1) one
applicable to any municipality which operates paid police and fire departments and which
has a population of not fewer than 13,000 persons; and (2) one applicable to any parish, fire
protection district, or municipality with a population of fewer than 13,000, but not fewer
than 7,000 persons. Present constitution authorizes modifications to such systems (by law
adopted by 2/3 of each house of the legislature in the case of provisions of Art. XIV, §15.1
of the 1921 constitution made statutory by the constitution of 1974) but prohibits the
legislature from abolishing the system or making it inapplicable to covered jurisdictions.
Present law, relative to both systems, provides that a municipal fire and police civil service
board is created in the municipal government. Requires the board to establish and maintain
employment lists containing the names of persons eligible for appointment to various classes
of positions in the classified service.
Proposed law retains present constitution and present law.
Present law requires that each person selected for appointment to an entry level position in
the classified service who has demonstrated successful completion of formal training as
provided in present law prior to appointment to immediately begin the working test.
Requires any person selected for appointment to any such position who has not demonstrated
successful completion of formal training prior to appointment to be employed by the
appointing authority and reported to the board as a recruit and to immediately begin formal
training.
Present law requires that the formal training be provided for through the appointing authority
for a period of not more than six months from the date of appointment. Requires that the
formal training period conclude six months from the date of original appointment or upon
the successful completion of the formal training, whichever occurs first, at which time the
working test shall commence.
Present law requires that successful completion of formal training as required by present law
for a position in the classification of firefighter or firefighter/operator be demonstrated by
certification as Firefighter I in accordance with National Fire Protection Assoc. Standard
1001.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law includes an exception for persons selected for appointment to an entry-level
position as a firefighter in the cities of Baton Rouge, Bossier City, and Lafayette and Fire
Protection District No. 2 of Ward 4 of Calcasieu Parish. Prohibits any such person from
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HB NO. 70
starting the working test period until the person successfully completes formal training as
required by present law. Provides that formal training means successful completion of a fire
training academy provided by the appointing authority. Requires all persons to successfully
complete the fire training academy whether or not the person was certified as Firefighter I
in accordance with National Fire Protection Assoc. Standard 1001 prior to appointment.
Present law authorizes the appointing authority to provide for the duration of the fire training
academy provided for in present law. Requires a recruit to immediately begin the working
test period upon successful completion of the fire training academy.
Proposed law retains present law and makes present law also applicable in the city of
Shreveport.
(Amends R.S. 33:2495.3(A))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.