SLS 22RS-128 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 413
BY SENATOR FRED MILLS
LOCAL EMPLOYEES. Provides relative to the chief of police for the city of Breaux
Bridge. (8/1/22)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 33:381(C)(35), relative to municipal officers; to provide relative to the city of
3 Breaux Bridge; to provide relative to appointment of the chief of police for the city
4 of Breaux Bridge; to provide with respect to the initial appointment; to provide
5 relative to the salary, term of office, duties, and supervision of the chief of police;
6 and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 33:381(C)(35) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 ยง381. Municipal officers
10 * * *
11 C.
12 * * *
13 (35) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the chief
14 of police of the city of Breaux Bridge shall not be elected at large but shall be
15 appointed by the mayor, upon approval by majority vote of the members of the
16 city council. The first such appointment shall be made at the end of the term of
17 the elected chief of police who is in office on the effective date of this Paragraph,
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 413
SLS 22RS-128 ORIGINAL
1 except that such appointment may be made immediately if the office of police
2 chief is vacant or filled by an officer temporarily appointed as of said date. The
3 term of office of the chief of police shall be concurrent with that of the
4 appointing mayor and members of the city council. The city council shall set the
5 salary of the chief of police upon recommendation of the mayor. The mayor and
6 the members of the city council shall establish the qualifications, duties, and
7 responsibilities of the chief of police. The chief of police shall report directly to
8 the mayor.
9 * * *
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by James Benton.
DIGEST
SB 413 Original 2022 Regular Session Fred Mills
Present law provides that the officers of every municipality governed by the provisions of
the Lawrason Act (mayor-board of aldermen form of government) will be a mayor,
alderman, a chief of police, a tax collector, a clerk, and a street commissioner. Generally
provides for election, at large, of the police chief. Provides for appointment of a police chief
in certain specified municipalities.
Present law alternatively provides that the office of police chief will be filled by mayoral
appointment with approval of the board of aldermen if a majority of the municipal electors
approve the change. Provides for an election on the question only upon a petition directed
to the board of aldermen and signed by at least 25% of such electors.
Proposed law provides an exception for the police chief in the city of Breaux Bridge.
Provides that such police chief will be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the city
council by majority vote. Provides for initial appointment upon expiration of the current
term or other vacancy if there is an elected chief in office on the effective date of proposed
law; provides for immediate appointment if not. Provides that the police chief's term will be
concurrent with that of the mayor and council members.
Proposed law provides that the city council, upon recommendation of the mayor, will
establish the salary of the office and will, by ordinance, establish the qualifications, duties,
and responsibilities of the office and that the chief will report directly to the mayor.
Effective August 1, 2022.
(Adds R.S. 33:381(C)(35))
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.