RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 203 (HB 187) 2024 Regular Session Villio
Existing 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. Existing 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.
Existing 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.
Existing 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.
Existing 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. Existing law provides exceptions
for certain police departments, including a specific exception for police departments in the
cities of Broussard, Carencro, Scott, and Youngsville. Requires the appointing authorities
in those cities to select and appoint to any vacancy a person who is among the three highest
in departmental seniority.
New law requires that vacancies in the police department in the city of Kenner be filled in
the same manner as vacancies are filled in the cities of Broussard, Carencro, Scott, and
Youngsville.
Effective August 1, 2024.
(Adds R.S. 33:2494(C)(6))