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 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))