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HB 376

CIVIL SERVICE/FIRE & POL: Provides relative to provisional appointments in the classified service

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tim Kerner

HB 376 extends provisional appointments for certain fire and police positions from 60 to 90 days, with no successive provisional appointments for the same role.

Effective date: 08/01/2026.
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Bill Summary · HB 376

Summary of HB 376 (2026 Louisiana Session)

Purpose and Intent

  • HB 376 aims to modify the rules governing provisional appointments in the fire and police civil service for municipalities, parishes, and fire protection districts.
  • Specifically, it changes the maximum allowable duration of provisional appointments from 60 days to 90 days.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Amends and reenacts two provisions:
    • R.S. 33:2496(1)(a)(iii) (Temporary appointments in the classified service)
    • R.S. 33:2556(1)(a)(iii) (Temporary appointments in the classified service)
  • For vacancies in the following entrance and primary-duty classes, the appointing authority may make a provisional appointment of a qualified candidate:
    • Entrance firefighter
    • Entrance police officer
    • Entrance jailer
    • Secretary to the chief
    • Departmental records clerk
    • Entrance classes for which operation and maintenance of radio, alarm, or signal systems is the primary duty
  • Current law limits provisional appointments in these categories to 60 days. HB 376 extends that limit to 90 days.
  • Both sections prohibit successive provisional appointments in the same entrance and related classes beyond the initial provisional appointment (i.e., no ongoing chain of provisional appointments for the same position).

Who/What Is Affected

  • Fire and police civil service systems:
    • Municipalities with paid police and fire departments (population ≥ 13,000)
    • Parishes, fire protection districts, and municipalities with smaller populations (≥ 7,000 but < 13,000)
  • The bill preserves the existing two-system framework (one for larger municipalities, another for smaller jurisdictions) and keeps the constitutional framework intact.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Effective change: Upon enactment, the maximum duration for provisional appointments in the listed entrance and primary-duty classes becomes 90 days (up from 60 days).
  • Provisions remain:
    • Provisional appointments are provisional and do not grant permanent status.
    • Whenever feasible, provisional appointments should be used to promote from a lower class.
    • A provisional appointment cannot continue indefinitely and remains limited to the specified 90-day maximum.
    • Prohibition on successive provisional appointments for the same listed positions.

Practical Implications

  • Hiring flexibility: Jurisdictions gain an additional 30 days to evaluate and hire candidates without permanently filling vacancies, potentially reducing disruption in operations.
  • Administrative impact: Departments will need to track provisional appointment periods carefully to avoid extending beyond 90 days and to ensure compliance with the prohibition on successive provisional appointments.

Summary

HB 376 modestly expands the window for provisional appointments in key fire and police civil service classifications from 60 to 90 days, while maintaining the existing two-tier system and the prohibition on multiple consecutive provisional appointments for the same position. The change provides greater staffing flexibility for municipalities, parishes, and fire protection districts operating fire and police services in Louisiana.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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