House Bill No. 527 amends and reenacts several provisions of the Louisiana Revised Statutes concerning the classified police service in the city of Lafayette. Key changes include the modification of the ranks eligible for promotion, specifically changing the rank of "lieutenant or above" to "lieutenant or captain." The bill also introduces a new section, R.S. 33:2494.1, which outlines the process for filling a vacant position at the rank of major in the Lafayette Police Department. This includes eligibility criteria for employees holding the rank of sergeant or above to take a competitive examination, the establishment of an eligibility list, and the appointment process by the chief of police.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that the appointment to the position of major will be for a term of one year, subject to annual review by the chief of police, who has the discretion to reconfirm or demote the employee. Importantly, if an employee is demoted from the position of major, they will not lose any accumulated departmental or promotional seniority, and the demotion will not be considered a disciplinary action. The provisions of this bill will take effect on July 1, 2025, and will only apply to employees who have not achieved permanent status in the rank of major by that date.

Statutes affected:
HB527 Original: 33:2491(D)(2), 33:2494(C)(2), 33:2498(C)