Senate File 454 - Introduced SENATE FILE 454 BY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT (SUCCESSOR TO SF 266) A BILL FOR An Act relating to civil service requirements for the hiring of 1 certain city public safety positions. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 2363SV (2) 90 js/ns
S.F. 454 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 400.12A Hiring practices —— 1 suspension —— reinstatement. 2 1. A city council, by majority vote, may suspend the 3 practices specified in subsection 2 that are generally required 4 pursuant to this chapter for the hiring of fire fighters, 5 fire chiefs, assistant fire chiefs, police officers, police 6 chiefs, or assistant police chiefs. A suspension shall not 7 be in effect for more than one year, but a city council may 8 immediately vote to implement a new suspension of the required 9 practices upon the expiration of the prior suspension. Upon 10 the expiration of a suspension, hiring practices required under 11 this chapter shall be immediately reinstated for the applicable 12 positions. A city council, by majority vote, may reinstate 13 hiring practices suspended pursuant to this section prior to 14 the expiration of the suspension. A subsequent vote to suspend 15 required hiring practices, even if the vote occurs prior to 16 the original expiration date of the prior suspension, shall be 17 considered a vote for a new suspension. 18 2. Any of the following practices generally required 19 pursuant to this chapter may be suspended as provided in 20 subsection 1: 21 a. The provisions of section 400.11, subsection 1, paragraph 22 “a” . 23 b. The provisions of section 400.11, subsection 2, paragraph 24 “a” , requiring a civil service commission to certify to the 25 city council a list of names of the ten persons who qualify 26 with the highest standing as a result of each examination for 27 the position the persons seek to fill in the order of their 28 standing. 29 c. The provisions of section 400.17, subsection 1, 30 requiring a person to be certified to the city council as 31 being eligible for the appointment prior to the person being 32 appointed, promoted, or employed in any capacity, including a 33 new classification, in the fire or police department. 34 EXPLANATION 35 -1- LSB 2363SV (2) 90 js/ns 1/ 2
S.F. 454 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 1 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 2 This bill relates to civil service requirements for the 3 hiring of certain city public safety positions. Under current 4 law, Code chapter 400 (civil service) sets forth a variety 5 of provisions relating to hiring civil service employees, 6 including examinations, probationary periods, veteran 7 preferences, and other qualifications. 8 The bill allows a city council to suspend civil service 9 hiring practices specified in the bill for the hiring of fire 10 fighters, fire chiefs, assistant fire chiefs, police officers, 11 police chiefs, or assistant police chiefs. 12 These include (1) submission to the city council of a 13 certified list of 40 persons who qualify with the highest 14 standing as a result of each examination for an original 15 appointment, (2) submission to the city council of a certified 16 list of 10 persons who qualify with the highest standing as 17 a result of each examination for a promotion, and (3) the 18 prerequisite that a person be certified as eligible prior to 19 being appointed, promoted, or employed. 20 A suspension shall not be in effect for more than one 21 year, but a city council may immediately vote to implement a 22 new suspension upon the expiration of the prior suspension. 23 Required hiring practices shall be immediately reinstated 24 upon the expiration of a suspension. A city council may vote 25 to reinstate hiring practices prior to the expiration of a 26 suspension. A subsequent vote to suspend required hiring 27 practices is considered a vote for a new suspension. 28 -2- LSB 2363SV (2) 90 js/ns 2/ 2