HLS 21RS-757 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 261
BY REPRESENTATIVE STAGNI
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CIVIL SERVICE/FIRE & POL: Provides relative to the qualifications of the members of
the municipal fire and police civil service board
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 33:2476(B)(1)(f) and 2536(B)(1)(d), relative to the municipal fire and police
3 civil service board; to provide relative to the members of the board; to provide
4 relative to the qualifications of such members; to require the respective governing
5 body to conduct a background check on any person being considered for
6 appointment to a board; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 33:2476(B)(1)(f) and 2536(B)(1)(d) are hereby enacted to read as
9follows:
10 §2476. Municipal fire and police civil service boards
11 * * *
12 B.(1)
13 * * *
14 (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the governing
15 body of the respective municipality shall conduct a background check on any person
16 who is under consideration for appointment to the board. No person is eligible for
17 appointment or may serve as a member of the board if his background check reveals
18 that he has been convicted of or terminated from previous employment for a criminal
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 21RS-757 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 261
1 offense, a civil rights violation, corruption, extortion, gross misconduct, or a conflict
2 of interest in the ten years immediately preceding his appointment.
3 * * *
4 §2536. Fire and police civil service boards
5 * * *
6 B.(1)
7 * * *
8 (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
9 governing body of the respective parish, municipality, or fire protection district shall
10 conduct a background check on any person who is under consideration for
11 appointment to the board. No person is eligible for appointment or may serve as a
12 member of the board if his background check reveals that he has been convicted of
13 or terminated from previous employment for a criminal offense, a civil rights
14 violation, corruption, extortion, gross misconduct, or a conflict of interest in the ten
15 years immediately preceding his appointment.
16 * * *
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 261 Original 2021 Regular Session Stagni
Abstract: Relative to the municipal fire and police civil service board, requires the
respective governing body to conduct a background check on each person under
consideration for appointment to a board.
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 constitution and present law.
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 21RS-757 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 261
Present law, creates a municipal fire and police civil service board in each parish,
municipality, and fire protection district composed of five members appointed by the
respective governing body. Requires that at least two members of the board be appointed
who shall be first nominated and elected by and from the regular employees of the fire and
police departments. Provides further with respect to the qualifications of board members.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally requires the respective governing body to
conduct a background check on any person being considered for appointment to the board.
Provides that no person is eligible for appointment or may serve as a member of the board
if his background check reveals that he has been convicted of or terminated from previous
employment for certain violations in the 10 years immediately preceding his appointment.
(Adds R.S. 33:2476(B)(1)(f) and 2536(B)(1)(d))
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.