§2555. Working tests

A. Every person appointed to a position in the classified service following the certification of his name from a promotional or a competitive employment list, except as provided in R.S. 33:2555.1 and except those appointed on a temporary basis, shall be reported to the board as a probational employee within fifteen days of his appointment. The probational employee shall be tested by a working test while occupying the position before he may be confirmed as a regular and permanent employee in the position.

B.(1) Except as provided in R.S. 33:2555.1, the period of the working test shall commence immediately upon appointment and shall continue for a period of not less than six months nor more than one year.

(2)(a) Any probational employee in the classified fire service, except an entry level fireman and an entry level radio, fire alarm, or signal system operator, who has served less than six months of his working test for any given position may be removed therefrom only with the prior approval of the board, and only upon one of the following grounds:

(i) He is unable or unwilling to perform satisfactorily the duties of the position to which he has been appointed.

(ii) His habits and dependability do not merit his continuance therein.

(b) Any such probational employee in the classified fire service may appear before the board and present his case before he is removed.

(c) Any such probational employee in the classified fire service who is rejected after having served a working test of six months but not more than one year may appeal to the board only upon the grounds that he has not been given a fair opportunity to prove his ability in the position.

(3)(a) Any probational employee in a position of a competitive class of the classified police service, except an entry level police officer, and an entry level radio, police alarm, or signal system operator, who has served less than six months of his working test for any given position may be removed therefrom only with the prior approval of the board. Any probational employee in a position of a promotional class of the classified police service, who has served less than three months of his working test for any given position may be removed therefrom only with the prior approval of the board. Any such probational employee may be removed only upon one of the following grounds:

(i) He is unable or unwilling to perform satisfactorily the duties of the position to which he has been appointed.

(ii) His habits and dependability do not merit his continuance therein.

(b) Any such probational employee in the classified police service may appear before the board and present his case before he is removed.

(c) Any such probational employee in the classified police service appointed to a position of a competitive class who is rejected after having served a working test of six months but not more than one year may appeal to the board only upon the grounds that he has not been given a fair opportunity to prove his ability in the position.

(d) Any such probational employee in the classified police service appointed to a position of a promotional class who is rejected after having served a working test of three months but not more than one year may appeal to the board only upon the grounds that he has not been given a fair opportunity to prove his ability in the position.

C. Upon any employee completing his working test, the appointing authority shall so advise the board and furnish a signed statement to the respective employee of its confirmation and acceptance of the employee as a regular and permanent employee in the respective position or of its refusal to confirm the employee, and the reasons therefor. If, at the expiration of an employee's working test period, the appointing authority fails to confirm or reject the employee, such failure to act shall constitute a confirmation.

D. The appointing authority may remove, and shall remove upon the order of the board, any employee during his working test period whom the board finds, after giving him notice and an opportunity to be heard, was appointed as a result of an error, misrepresentation, or fraud.

E. In any event where any employee is permitted under this Part to appeal to the board, the decision of the board shall be subject to the judicial review provided by this Part and the appointing authority and employee shall be governed accordingly.

F. Any employee appointed in accordance with R.S. 33:2554, who has commenced a working test shall have such working test considered interrupted by any absence greater than thirty consecutive days. The working test, even if interrupted, shall not be more than the aggregate period of one year.

Acts 1964, No. 282, §1; Acts 1997, No. 515, §1, eff. July 3, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 1139, §1; Acts 2005, No. 197, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2005; Acts 2013, No. 331, §1; Acts 2016, No. 552, §1, eff. June 17, 2016; Acts 2016, No. 552, §2.