HLS 25RS-432 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 285
BY REPRESENTATIVE BAMBURG
POLICE/MUNICIPAL: Provides for the abolition of the office of police chief and police
department in the village of Edgefield
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 33:381(C)(37), relative to the village of Edgefield and Red River Parish; to
3 provide for the abolition of the office of police chief and the police department in the
4 village of Edgefield; to authorize the village to contract with other law enforcement
5 entities in the parish for law enforcement services; 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. 33:381(C)(37) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 ยง381. Municipal officers
12 * * *
13 C.
14 * * *
15 (37)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the board
16 of aldermen of the village of Edgefield may, upon recommendation of the mayor,
17 abolish the office of chief of police of the village. No such action by the board shall
18 be effective until the end of the term of the police chief in office at the time of that
19 action or when a vacancy occurs in the office, whichever occurs first; however, if at
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-432 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 285
1 the time of that action the office is filled by an officer temporarily appointed, the
2 abolition of the office shall become effective as provided by ordinance.
3 (b) If the office of chief of police is abolished and the municipal police
4 department is abolished pursuant to R.S. 33:362(C), the mayor and board of
5 aldermen may contract with or enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with any
6 law enforcement entity or officer within Red River Parish for police services for the
7 village.
8 * * *
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 285 Original 2025 Regular Session Bamburg
Abstract: Provides for the abolition of the office of police chief and police department in
the village of Edgefield and authorizes the municipality to contract for law
enforcement services.
Present law provides that the officers of every municipality governed by the provisions of
the Lawrason Act (mayor-board of aldermen form of government) shall be a mayor,
aldermen, a chief of police, a tax collector, and a clerk.
Present law (R.S. 33:362(C)) provides that any department of such a municipality, other than
the police department in a municipality with an elected chief of police, shall be created,
abolished, merged, or consolidated by the board of aldermen, upon the written
recommendation of the mayor.
Present law provides for at-large election of the mayor and police chief in all municipalities.
Further provides for exceptions with respect to the chief of police in certain municipalities.
Proposed law provides an exception for the office of police chief in the village of Edgefield.
Provides that the board of aldermen may, upon the recommendation of the mayor, abolish
the office of police chief. Provides that the office cannot be abolished until the end of the
term of the police chief in office at the time of that action or when a vacancy occurs in the
office, whichever occurs first; however, if at the time of that action the office is filled by an
officer temporarily appointed, the abolition of the office will become effective as provided
by ordinance.
Proposed law provides that if the office of police chief and the police department are
abolished pursuant to proposed law and present law, the mayor and board of aldermen may
contract with any other law enforcement entity or officer within Red River Parish for police
services.
(Adds R.S. 33:381(C)(37))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.