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 237 Engrossed 2022 Regular Session Jenkins
Abstract: Makes certain provisions of the municipal fire and police civil service relative to the
administration of tests applicable only to the city of Shreveport.
Present constitution creates a fire and police civil service system applicable to municipalities of over
13,000 population and parishes and fire protection districts. Provides that the system is subject to
Art. XIV, ยง15.1 of the 1921 Constitution of Louisiana made statutory by the 1974 Constitution of
Louisiana. 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.
Present law relative to both systems, provides that a municipal fire and police civil service board is
created in the parish, municipal, and fire protection district government. Requires the board to
establish and maintain employment lists containing the names of persons eligible for appointment
to various classes of positions in the classified service. Requires the board, through the state
examiner, to provide for tests to determine the eligibility of applicants for entry upon promotional
and competitive employment lists.
Present law provides that promotional tests may be held as the needs of the service require, but
requires that they be given at least one time during each successive period of 18 months. Provides
that competitive tests shall only be given as the needs of the service require and requires that they
be given for classes comprising certain duties and positions including the operation and maintenance
of radio, fire alarm, police alarm, and other signal systems. Provides an exception for municipalities
having a population between 198,000 and 200,000 by including the operations, management, and
supervision of radio, fire alarm, police alarm, and other signal systems among those positions for
which competitive tests shall be given.
Proposed law retains present law but with respect to the exception applicable to certain
municipalities, removes the population reference and makes the exception applicable only to the city
of Shreveport.
(Amends Const. 1921, Art. XIV, Sec. 15.1(22)(g)(4)(b) and R.S. 33:2492(7)(d)(ii); Repeals R.S.
33:2552(7)(d)(ii))