HLS 19RS-89 ENGROSSED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 150
BY REPRESENTATIVE ZERINGUE
POLICE/LOCAL: Provides relative to the position of police chief in the city of Houma
1 AN ACT
2To repeal R.S. 33:2481.3, relative to the city of Houma; to provide relative to the position
3 of police chief; to repeal provisions that provide that the position is in the
4 unclassified service.
5 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
6 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
7 Louisiana.
8Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 33: 2481.3 is hereby repealed in its entirety.
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 150 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Zeringue
Abstract: Relative to the city of Houma, repeals provisions that place the position of police
chief in the unclassified 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, ยง15.1 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.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-89 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 150
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 constitution and present law.
Present law provides an exception for the position of police chief in the city of Houma.
Provides that such position is in the unclassified service and provides that the right of
selection, appointment, supervision, and discharge for such position is vested in the president
of Terrebonne Parish. Further provides that the appointment of the police chief is subject
to the approval of the parish governing authority. Provides that any person appointed to the
position of police chief shall meet all qualifications and requirements as provided in the
parish compensation plan in effect at the time of his appointment.
Present law provides that any person who resigns from a position in the classified service
to be appointed 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 in
a comparable position.
Present law provides that the provisions of present law will be null and void on July 1, 2016.
Proposed law repeals present law, relative to the police chief in Houma.
(Repeals R.S. 33:2481.3)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.