House Bill No. by Representative Kerner amends the Louisiana Revised Statutes to clarify the reemployment process for employees in the fire and police civil service who have been separated due to injury or medical conditions. The bill replaces terms like "resigns or retires" with "is separated from service," ensuring that reemployment eligibility applies to all employees with job-related injuries or medical conditions, regardless of how they left their positions. It establishes that the treating physician will determine whether a separation is duty-related or non-duty-related, and outlines the reemployment process, which includes retaining seniority, longevity, and pay progression status without the need for retesting.

Furthermore, the bill allows employees separated due to duty-related injuries to remain on an active reemployment eligibility list for their former class or accept temporary positions in a lower class while maintaining their pay rate. It shifts the authority for disputing medical certifications from the appointing authority to the board, which can seek independent evaluations if necessary. Overall, the proposed changes aim to streamline the reemployment process and enhance protections for employees separated due to medical issues, ensuring their rights and benefits are preserved.

Statutes affected:
HB1111 Original: 33:2490(E), 33:2550(E)