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 47 Original 2025 Regular Session Dewitt
Abstract: Relative to the classified police service in the city of Alexandria, changes the method of
appointment for filling vacancies in the promotional class.
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, ยง15.1 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, relative to the system applicable to municipalities with a population of not fewer than
13,000, provides that "departmental seniority" refers to the period of continuous employment in the
department. Defines "promotional seniority" to mean the total cumulative employment in a class
of positions of the next lower class from which a promotion is to be made. Specifies further relative
to employment counted toward seniority in the next lower class.
Present law, relative to both systems, provides that a municipal fire and police civil service board
is created in the municipal, parish, and fire protection 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 that names of persons attaining a passing
score on a promotion test be placed on the promotion employment list for the tested class, from
highest to lowest, according to departmental seniority.
Present law requires that vacant positions be filled by reinstatement or reemployment. If the position
cannot be filled in this manner, then the position must be filled by the person on the promotion list
with the greatest departmental seniority. Present law provides exceptions for certain police
departments.
Proposed law retains present law but provides an additional exception applicable to the city of Alexandria. Requires the appointing authority to select and appoint to any vacancy to be filled a
person certified to him as a person who is among the five highest in departmental seniority.
(Adds R.S. 33:2494(C)(7))