HLS 21RS-240 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 135
BY REPRESENTATIVE CARRIER
CIVIL SERVICE/FIRE & POL: Provides relative to the position of deputy chief of police
in the city of Oakdale
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 33:2541.1(C)(1) and to enact R.S. 33:2541.1(B)(1)(d), relative
3 to the city of Oakdale; to provide relative to the position of deputy chief of police;
4 to change the qualifications for such position; to provide relative to the evaluation
5 of the deputy chief of police; and to provide for related matters.
6 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
7 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
8 Louisiana.
9Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 33:2541.1(C)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
1133:2541.1(B)(1)(d) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 §2541.1. Deputy chief of police; competitive appointment
13 * * *
14 B.(1)
15 * * *
16 (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph,
17 in the city of Oakdale, the deputy chief of police shall have not less than three years
18 of full-time law enforcement experience and shall have successfully completed a
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HB NO. 135
1 certified training program approved by the Peace Officer Standards and Training
2 Council.
3 * * *
4 C.(1)(a) Any person who is appointed from a position in the classified police
5 service to serve as deputy chief of police shall not forfeit his departmental or
6 promotional seniority accumulated to the date of his appointment, and he shall
7 continue to accumulate departmental or promotional seniority in accordance with the
8 provisions of this Part during the time he holds the position of deputy chief of police.
9 (b)(i) The deputy chief of police shall serve indefinitely in the classified
10 competitive position and shall be evaluated every three years by the chief of police.
11 After each evaluation by the chief of police, the chief may reconfirm the deputy chief
12 for another three-year period, or may, at his discretion, demote the deputy chief to
13 his former class of positions.
14 (ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of Item (i) of this Subparagraph, in the
15 city of Oakdale, the deputy chief of police shall serve indefinitely in the classified
16 competitive position and shall be evaluated every year by the chief of police. After
17 each evaluation by the chief of police, the chief may reconfirm the deputy chief for
18 another one-year period, or may, at his discretion, demote the deputy chief to his
19 former class of positions.
20 * * *
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HB NO. 135
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 135 Original 2021 Regular Session Carrier
Abstract: Changes the qualifications for the position of deputy police chief in the city of
Oakdale.
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 police chief, subject to approval of
the appointing authority. Provides that the positions of police chief and assistant police chief
shall be in the classified service. Provides further with respect to which positions are in the
classified and unclassified service.
Present law additionally authorizes the governing authority to create, by ordinance, the
competitive classified position of deputy police chief. Provides that the right of selection,
appointment, supervision, and discharge is vested in the police chief, subject to approval of
the appointing authority. Further provides that the position of deputy police chief is not the
same as the position of assistant police chief as provided in present law.
Present law requires the deputy police chief to have at least eight years of full-time law
enforcement experience and to at least hold the rank of sergeant in the classified police
service at the time of his appointment. Provides exceptions for the cities of Jennings and
St. Martinville.
Proposed law retains present law but provides an additional exception for the city of
Oakdale. Requires the deputy police chief to have at least three years of full-time law
enforcement experience and to have successfully completed a certified training program
approved by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.
Present law provides that any person who is appointed from a position in the classified
police service to serve as deputy police chief does not forfeit his departmental or
promotional seniority accumulated to the date of his appointment and he continues to
accumulate departmental or promotional seniority during the time he holds the position of
deputy police chief.
Proposed law retains present law.
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HB NO. 135
Present law provides that the deputy police chief serves indefinitely in the classified
competitive position but requires that he be evaluated every three years by the police chief.
Authorizes the police chief to reconfirm the deputy police chief for another three-year
period, or, at his discretion, demote the deputy police chief to his former class of positions.
Proposed law retains present law but makes an exception for the city of Oakdale. Requires
that the deputy police chief be evaluated every year by the police chief. Authorizes the
police chief to reconfirm the deputy police chief for another one-year period, or, at his
discretion, demote the deputy police chief to his former class of positions.
(Amends R.S. 33:2541.1(C)(1); Adds R.S. 33:2541.1(B)(1)(d))
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