HB 41

HLS 26RS-313  REENGROSSED
 2026 Regular Session
 HOUSE BILL NO. 41
 BY REPRESENTATIVE DEWITT
 RETIREMENT/FIREFIGHTERS: Provides relative to board membership of the
  Firefighters' Retirement System
1AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 11:2260(A)(2)(introductory paragraph) and (a) and (3) and to
3repeal R.S. 11:2260(A)(2)(b), relative to the Firefighters' Retirement System; to
4provide relative to certain members of the board of trustees; to provide for
5qualifications; to provide for elections; to provide relative to vacancies on the board
6of trustees; to provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
7Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
8as provided by Article X, Section 29(C) of the Constitution
9of Louisiana.
10 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11Section 1. R.S. 11:2260(A)(2)(introductory paragraph) and (a) and (3) are hereby
12 amended and reenacted to read as follows:
13§2260. Administration
14A. Board of trustees:
15*       *  *
16(2) The board shall consist of at least thirteen trustees as follows:
17(a) Two members of the Professional Fire Fighters Association who shall be
18members Five active members of the system and who shall be elected by a majority
19of the officers of the association as follows: who shall have at least ten years of
20service credit and who shall be elected by active members of the system as follows:
  Page 1 of 4
 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
 are additions.
 HLS 26RS-313  REENGROSSED
  HB NO. 41
1(i) One member shall be elected in December, 1988, to take office January
21, 1989, to serve until January 1, 1992, and his successor shall be elected for a term
3of five years, commencing on January 1, 1992. Three members shall be active
4members of the Professional Fire Fighters Association.
5(ii) One member shall be elected in December, 1988, to take office January
61, 1989, to serve until January 1, 1993, and his successor shall be elected for a term
7of five years, commencing on January 1, 1993. One member shall be an active
8member of the system not participating in the Professional Fire Fighters Association.
9(iii) One member shall be an active member of the Louisiana Fire Chiefs
10Association.
11*       *  *
12(3) If an active member dies while serving on the board, the vacancy shall
13be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the office was previously
14filled. If an active member's status changes such that he would no longer qualify for
15the position he holds on the board of trustees, or if an active member retires or a
16member terminates employment after participating in the Deferred Retirement
17Option Plan and retires, while serving on the board, he shall continue to serve until
18his term expires. If any other vacancy occurs in the office of a trustee, the vacancy
19shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as was previously filled.
20Should the term of a board member expire during the period of participation in the
21Deferred Retirement Option Plan, he shall be eligible to seek reelection to his
22position while participating in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan. A vacancy in
23the membership of the board shall be filled for the unexpired term in the manner
24provided in Paragraph (A)(2) of this Section.
25*       *  *
26Section 2. R.S. 11:2260(A)(2)(b) is hereby repealed in its entirety.
27Section 3. The terms of the members of the board of trustees of the Firefighters'
28 Retirement System elected prior to the effective date of this Act pursuant to R.S.
29 11:2260(A)(2)(a) and (b) shall terminate on the effective date of this Act; however, such
  Page 2 of 4
 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
 are additions.
HLS 26RS-313  REENGROSSED
  HB NO. 41
1 members shall remain in office until the board members are elected as provided in this Act
2 and take office.
3Section 4. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
4 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
5 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
6 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
7 effective on the day following such approval.
  DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 41 Reengrossed  2026 Regular Session  Dewitt
Abstract: Provides relative to the Firefighters' Retirement System (FRS) board of trustees.
Present law provides that membership on the FRS board of trustees includes the following:
(1)    A member of the House Committee on Retirement appointed by the speaker.
(2)    The chairman of the Senate Committee on Retirement or his designee.
(3)    Two retirees of the system elected by a majority vote of the retirees and
  beneficiaries.
(4)    Two mayors appointed by the La. Municipal Assoc.
(5)    The state treasurer or his designee.
(6)    The commissioner of administration or his designee.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that the board additionally includes two members of the Professional
Fire Fighters' Assoc. (PFFA) elected by a majority vote of the officers of the association.
Proposed law provides instead that the five members on the board be active members of the
system with at least 10 years of service credit and be elected by a majority vote of the active
members of the system. Provides that three members be members of the PFFA, one is not
member of the PFFA, and one member is a member of the La. Fire Chiefs Assoc.
Present law provides that the board additionally includes three members of the La. Fire
Chiefs Assoc. elected by a majority of the officers of the association.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Present law provides that in the event a member of the board dies during his term of office,
the vacancy is filled in a manner consistent with present law. Provides that if the status of
a trustee changes such that he would no longer qualify, or he terminates employment or
  Page 3 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-313  REENGROSSED
  HB NO. 41
retires after participant in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP), he shall continue
to serve until his term expires. Provides that if any other vacancy occurs the vacancy shall
be filled in a manner consistent with present law. Provides that if a trustee's term expires
during DROP participation, he is eligible to seek reelection during DROP participation.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Proposed law requires a vacancy of an active member be filled in accordance with proposed
law and present law.
Proposed law provides that the terms of the current elected members of the board of trustees
terminate upon the effective date of proposed law; however, such members remain in office
until the board members are elected as provided in proposed law.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 11:2260(A)(2)(intro. para.) and (a) and (3); Repeals R.S. 11:2260(A)(2)(b))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
   The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Retirement to the
  original bill:
   1.      Remove proposed provision concerning term limits.
   2.      Provide that active members of the board of trustees are elected by active
  members of the system.
   3.      Provide that three members elected are members of the Professional Fire Fighters
  Association and two members are elected by nonmembers of the Professional
  Fire Fighters Association.
   4.      Remove proposed provisions authorizing the board of trustees to fill a vacancy
  by appointment with less than two years left of the term.
   5.      Add provisions repealing present law appointment of fire chiefs to the board of
  trustees by the La. Fire Chiefs Association.
   6.      Provide that upon the effective date of proposed law, the terms of certain
  members serving on the board terminate; however, such members remain on the
  board of trustees until members are elected as provided in proposed law.
   7.      Provide that proposed law is effective upon signature of governor or lapse of
  time for gubernatorial action.
   8.      Make technical changes.
   The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
   1.      Reduce the nonmembers of the Professional Fire Fighters Association elected to
  the board of trustees from two to one.
   2.      Provide that one member of the La. Fire Chiefs Association be elected to the
  board of trustees.
   3.      Make technical change.
  Page 4 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.