RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 145 (HB 150) 2019 Regular Session Zeringue
Existing 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. Existing 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.
Existing 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 parish, municipal, or fire
protection district 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.
Prior law provided an exception for the position of police chief in the city of Houma.
Provided that such position was in the unclassified service and provided that the right of
selection, appointment, supervision, and discharge for such position was vested in the
president of Terrebonne Parish. Further provided that the appointment of the police chief
was subject to the approval of the parish governing authority. Provided that any person
appointed to the position of police chief was required to meet all qualifications and
requirements as provided in the parish compensation plan in effect at the time of his
appointment.
Prior law provided that any person who resigned from a position in the classified service to
be appointed police chief did not forfeit his seniority accumulated to the date of his
resignation, but he could not accumulate seniority during the time he was not in the classified
service. Provided further with respect to the reemployment of any such person. Prior law
provided that the provisions of prior law were null and void on July 1, 2016.
New law repeals prior law.
Effective August 1, 2019.
(Repeals R.S. 33:2481.3)