HLS 18RS-1395 ORIGINAL
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 725
BY REPRESENTATIVE JAMES
CIVIL SERVICE/FIRE & POL: Provides that the positions of police chief and deputy
police chief in certain municipalities are in the unclassified service
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 33:2481.7, relative to the municipal police civil service; to provide relative to
3 the positions of police chief and deputy police chief in certain municipalities; to
4 provide that such positions are in the unclassified service; to provide relative to the
5 appointment, supervision, and discharge of any person in any such position; to
6 provide relative to resignation from and return to the classified service; and to
7 provide for related matters.
8Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 33:2481.7 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §2481.7. Police chief; deputy police chief; certain municipalities; unclassified
11 service
12 A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the positions of
13 chief of police and deputy chief of police for municipalities with a population of not
14 less than two hundred fifteen thousand persons according to the latest federal
15 decennial census, are in the unclassified service, and the right of selection,
16 appointment, supervision, and discharge for such positions is vested in the mayor of
17 the respective municipality.
18 B. Any person who resigns from a position in the classified service to accept
19 an appointment as chief of police or deputy chief of police shall not forfeit his
20 seniority accumulated to the date of his resignation, but he shall not accumulate
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HB NO. 725
1 seniority during the time he is not in the classified service. If any such person
2 resigns from the position of chief of police or deputy chief of police or is terminated
3 for any reason other than malfeasance in office, he shall be eligible to be reemployed
4 to the same position in the classified service in which he was employed immediately
5 preceding his resignation from the classified service. If the position has been filled
6 or no longer exists, then his employer shall employ him in a comparable position.
7 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
8signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
9by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
10vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
11effective on the day following such approval.
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 725 Original 2018 Regular Session James
Abstract: Relative to the positions of police chief and deputy police chief in certain
municipalities, provides that the positions are in the unclassified service. Provides
further with respect to the right of selection, appointment, supervision, and discharge
for such positions and provides relative to the resignation from and return to the
classified service.
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.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law relative to both systems, provides that the classified service shall comprise every
position, except those in the unclassified service, to which the right of employee selection,
appointment, supervision, and discharge is vested in the municipal government. Provides
that the positions of fire chief and police chief shall be in the classified service. Provides
further with respect to which positions are in the classified and unclassified service.
Proposed law retains present law but provides an exception for the positions of police chief
and deputy police chief in municipalities with a population of not less than 215,000 persons.
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HB NO. 725
Provides that the positions are in the unclassified service and provides that the right of
selection, appointment, supervision, and discharge for the positions is vested in the mayor.
Proposed law provides that any person who resigns from a position in the classified service
to be appointed police chief or deputy police chief shall not forfeit his seniority accumulated
to the date of his resignation. Provides that no such person shall accumulate seniority during
the time he is not in the classified service. Further provides that if any such person resigns
from such position or is terminated for any reason other than malfeasance in office, he shall
be eligible to be reemployed to the same position in the classified service in which he was
employed immediately preceding his resignation from the classified service. Provides that
if the position has been filled or no longer exists, then his former employer shall employ him
to a comparable position.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 33:2481.7)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.