The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Michael Bell.
DIGEST
SB 195 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Gatti
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.
Present law relative to the system applicable to large municipalities, provides that "departmental
seniority" refers to the period of continuous employment in the department. Defines "promotional
seniority" to mean the total cumulative employment in a class of positions of the next lower class
from which a promotion is to be made.
Present law requires the local fire and police civil service board to establish and maintain
employment lists containing the names of persons eligible for appointment to various classes of
positions. Requires that names of persons attaining a passing score on a promotion test be placed on
the promotion employment list according to departmental seniority.
Present law provides for an exception for the Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Crowley police
departments, requiring that names be placed on the promotion employment list according to their
promotional seniority. If two or more persons possess an equal amount of promotional seniority, then
the names must be placed on the promotion employment list according to departmental seniority.
Proposed law retains present law and adds to the exception for the Bossier City police department,
requiring that names be placed on the promotion employment list according to their promotional
seniority. If two or more persons possess an equal amount of promotional seniority, then the names
must be placed on the promotion employment list according to departmental seniority.
Present law provides that whenever an entire class is abolished in the classified service of the
Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Crowley police departments, the regular employees of the class shall
be demoted to lower classes and priority to positions shall be governed by total promotional seniority
earned in the class in the order of highest to lowest.
Proposed law retains present law and provides for an exception for the Bossier City police
department that whenever an entire class is abolished in the classified service, the regular employees
of the class shall be demoted to lower classes and priority to positions shall be governed by total
promotional seniority earned in the class in the order of highest to lowest. Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 33:2491(D)(1) and (H)(1); adds R.S. 33:2491(D)(4), 2491(H)(5), 2494(C)(4) and
2498(E))