HLS 25RS-819 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 278
BY REPRESENTATIVE ADAMS
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 certain members
of the fire and police civil service board
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 33:2476(B)(1)(c) and 2536(B)(1)(c), relative to the fire and
3 police civil service board; to provide relative to the members of the board; to provide
4 relative to the qualifications of certain members; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 33:2476(B)(1)(c) and 2536(B)(1)(c) are hereby amended and
7reenacted to read as follows:
8 §2476. Municipal fire and police civil service boards
9 * * *
10 B.(1)
11 * * *
12 (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this
13 Paragraph, the two members elected from the municipal fire and the municipal police
14 departments shall not be required to be residents or qualified voters of the
15 municipality in which they are appointed to serve or residents of the parish in which
16 the municipality is located provided that such exceptions are approved by resolution
17 of the local governing authority.
18 * * *
19 §2536. Fire and police civil service boards
20 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-819 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 278
1 B.(1)
2 * * *
3 (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this
4 Paragraph, the two members elected by and from the fire and the police departments
5 as provided in Paragraph (C)(3) of this Section shall not be required to be residents
6 or qualified voters of the area in which they are appointed to serve or residents of the
7 parish in which the area is located provided that such exceptions are approved by
8 resolution of the local governing authority.
9 * * *
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 278 Original 2025 Regular Session Adams
Abstract: Provides relative to the qualifications of the employee members of the fire and
police civil service 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.
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. Present law generally requires that each member of the board
be a citizen of the U.S. and a resident of the area for which fire or police protection is
provided for at least five years preceding his appointment. Additionally requires each
member to be a qualified voter of the area at the time of his appointment and to serve
without compensation.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law 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.
Requires the members to be residents of the parish in which the area they are to serve is
located for a period of at least five years preceding their appointment provided that such
residency exception is approved by the local governing authority.
Proposed law retains present law.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-819 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 278
Present law provides that, notwithstanding present law, the two members elected by and
from the fire and the police departments are not required to be residents or qualified voters
of the area in which they are appointed to serve or residents of the parish in which the area
is located provided that such exceptions are approved by the local governing authority.
Proposed law removes the requirement that the local governing authority approve the
qualified voter and residency exceptions.
(Amends R.S. 33:2476(B)(1)(c) and 2536(B)(1)(c))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.