LA HB136

Authorizes governing authorities to create a "chief of operations" position in fire departments through ordinance or resolution, filled competitively from an eligibility list with selection, appointment, supervision, and discharge authority vested in the fire chief

Requires candidates to have at least 25 years of fire suppression service and at least 1 year as a confirmed battalion or district chief, with eligibility limited to members of the same department

Permits chiefs of operations to take promotional exams for the next higher class, but their names cannot be certified for appointment until they are demoted back to their previous position

Protects departmental seniority for anyone appointed to the position, allowing continued accumulation during tenure and return to their previous class upon demotion or departure

Grants chiefs of operations the same disciplinary action rights as other municipal fire and police civil service employees