HR 383

ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 383
BY REPRESENTATIVE JORDAN
  A RESOLUTION
To create the Task Force on Fire Chief Operations to examine the position of fire chief in
        the fire and police civil service, including providing for a uniform definition in state
        law for the position of fire chief, and to provide a written report of its findings and
        recommendations to the members of the House of Representatives no later than thirty
        days prior to the convening of the 2027 Regular Session.
        WHEREAS, Article X, Section 16 of the Constitution of Louisiana provides for a
system of classified fire and police civil service that is applicable to all municipalities having
a population exceeding thirteen thousand persons and operating a regularly paid fire and
police department and to all parishes and fire protection districts operating a regularly paid
fire department; and
        WHEREAS, R.S. 33:2531 et seq. additionally provides for a system of classified fire
and police civil service that is applicable to all municipalities having a population of not less
than seven thousand persons and not more than thirteen thousand persons; and
        WHEREAS, the Louisiana Legislature has enacted a number of bills over the years
to change the fire and police civil service laws, and these changes have directly impacted the
employment of firemen and policemen throughout the state of Louisiana; and
        WHEREAS, although there have been many changes to the fire and police civil
service laws, these changes have not provided for a uniform definition for the position of fire
chief; and
        WHEREAS, a fire chief plays a crucial role in ensuring the efficient and effective
functioning of a fire department; and
        WHEREAS, the fire chief is the top executive in a fire department, responsible for
planning, directing, and coordinating the department's activities to protect life and property;
and
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HR NO. 383  ENROLLED
        WHEREAS, the fire chief has ultimate supervisory authority over operations,
personnel, and administration of a fire department and is directly responsible to the
municipal, parish, or fire protection government or the appointing authority for the
management and performance of the department; and
        WHEREAS, a fire chief's duties may include fire suppression, emergency medical
services, hazardous materials response, and disaster management; and
        WHEREAS, because a fire chief has numerous duties and responsibilities, the
position of fire chief should be a full-time position, and no person should serve as fire chief
on a part-time, volunteer, or purely contractual basis; and
        WHEREAS, it is essential to provide for a comprehensive review of the duties and
responsibilities of fire chiefs throughout the state and to provide for a uniform definition in
state law for the position of fire chief.
        THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
establish the Task Force on Fire Chief Operations to examine the position of fire chief in the
fire and police civil service, including providing for a uniform definition in state law for the
position of fire chief, and to provide a written report of its findings and recommendations
to the members of the House of Representatives and to the David R. Poynter Legislative
Research Library as required by R.S. 24:771 and 772 no later than thirty days prior to the
convening of the 2027 Regular Session.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall consist of the following
members:
        (1)     The chairman of the House Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural
Affairs or his designee.
        (2)     The chairman of the House Committee on Commerce or his designee.
        (3)     The state examiner of municipal fire and police civil service or his designee.
        (4)     The president of the Professional Fire Fighters Association of Louisiana or
his designee.
        (5)     The executive director of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana or his
designee.
        (6)     The president of the Louisiana Municipal Association or his designee.
        (7)     The president of the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association or his designee.
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HR NO. 383  ENROLLED
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each designating authority shall submit the name
of any designee to the state examiner of municipal fire and police civil service no later than
August 1, 2026.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall convene for its first meeting
no later than September 1, 2026, at the call of the chairman of the House Committee on
Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs or his designee.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that at the first meeting, the members shall elect a
chairman and other officers as the task force may deem appropriate.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be staffed by the office of
the state examiner of municipal fire and police civil service.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the task force shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business, and all official actions of the task force shall require
the affirmative vote of a majority of the members.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force shall serve
without compensation, except per diem or expenses reimbursement to which they may be
individually entitled as members of their constituent organizations.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that meetings of the task force shall be subject to the
Open Meetings Law, R.S. 42:11 et seq., and records of the task force shall be subject to the
Public Records Law, R.S. 44:1 et seq.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall terminate following the
conclusion of its business or February 15, 2027, whichever occurs first.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
state examiner of municipal fire and police civil service, the president of the Professional
Fire Fighters Association of Louisiana, the executive director of the Police Jury Association
of Louisiana, the president of the Louisiana Municipal Association, and the president of the
Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association.
  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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