The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by James Benton.
DIGEST
SB 158 Original 2020 Regular Session Luneau
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.
Proposed law retains present law and present constitution.
Present law regarding fire and police civil service systems for municipalities with not fewer than
13,000 persons, provides that when an appeal is taken by an employee in the classified service to a
municipal fire and police civil service board and the board determines, in reversing the decision of
the appointing authority, that the corrective or disciplinary action taken by the appointing authority
was without just cause, the board may award to the appealing employee attorney fees to be assessed
against the appointing authority not to exceed $1,000 in any one appeal.
Proposed law retains present law but changes the amount of the attorney fees that may be awarded
to the appealing attorney from $1,000 to $5,000 in any one appeal.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 33:2501.1)