Senate File 454 - Introduced
SENATE FILE 454
BY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL
GOVERNMENT
(SUCCESSOR TO SF 266)
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to civil service requirements for the hiring of
2 certain city public safety positions.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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 S.F. 454
1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 400.12A Hiring practices ——
2 suspension —— reinstatement.
3 1. A city council, by majority vote, may suspend the
4 practices specified in subsection 2 that are generally required
5 pursuant to this chapter for the hiring of fire fighters,
6 fire chiefs, assistant fire chiefs, police officers, police
7 chiefs, or assistant police chiefs. A suspension shall not
8 be in effect for more than one year, but a city council may
9 immediately vote to implement a new suspension of the required
10 practices upon the expiration of the prior suspension. Upon
11 the expiration of a suspension, hiring practices required under
12 this chapter shall be immediately reinstated for the applicable
13 positions. A city council, by majority vote, may reinstate
14 hiring practices suspended pursuant to this section prior to
15 the expiration of the suspension. A subsequent vote to suspend
16 required hiring practices, even if the vote occurs prior to
17 the original expiration date of the prior suspension, shall be
18 considered a vote for a new suspension.
19 2. Any of the following practices generally required
20 pursuant to this chapter may be suspended as provided in
21 subsection 1:
22 a. The provisions of section 400.11, subsection 1, paragraph
23 “a”.
24 b. The provisions of section 400.11, subsection 2, paragraph
25 “a”, requiring a civil service commission to certify to the
26 city council a list of names of the ten persons who qualify
27 with the highest standing as a result of each examination for
28 the position the persons seek to fill in the order of their
29 standing.
30 c. The provisions of section 400.17, subsection 1,
31 requiring a person to be certified to the city council as
32 being eligible for the appointment prior to the person being
33 appointed, promoted, or employed in any capacity, including a
34 new classification, in the fire or police department.
35 EXPLANATION
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 S.F. 454
1 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
2 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
3 This bill relates to civil service requirements for the
4 hiring of certain city public safety positions. Under current
5 law, Code chapter 400 (civil service) sets forth a variety
6 of provisions relating to hiring civil service employees,
7 including examinations, probationary periods, veteran
8 preferences, and other qualifications.
9 The bill allows a city council to suspend civil service
10 hiring practices specified in the bill for the hiring of fire
11 fighters, fire chiefs, assistant fire chiefs, police officers,
12 police chiefs, or assistant police chiefs.
13 These include (1) submission to the city council of a
14 certified list of 40 persons who qualify with the highest
15 standing as a result of each examination for an original
16 appointment, (2) submission to the city council of a certified
17 list of 10 persons who qualify with the highest standing as
18 a result of each examination for a promotion, and (3) the
19 prerequisite that a person be certified as eligible prior to
20 being appointed, promoted, or employed.
21 A suspension shall not be in effect for more than one
22 year, but a city council may immediately vote to implement a
23 new suspension upon the expiration of the prior suspension.
24 Required hiring practices shall be immediately reinstated
25 upon the expiration of a suspension. A city council may vote
26 to reinstate hiring practices prior to the expiration of a
27 suspension. A subsequent vote to suspend required hiring
28 practices is considered a vote for a new suspension.
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