§1657. Merit system covering department personnel; applicability of state civil service laws
A. The administrator shall provide for a merit system covering all personnel in
Louisiana Works who administer programs and services under the Louisiana Employment
Security Law. In connection therewith he shall, by suitable regulation, provide for the
classification of positions and for compensation plans for positions so classified; for the
holding of examinations to determine the relative fitness of applicants for positions in
accordance with the minimum qualifications set forth in the classification plan; for
appointments, promotions, and demotions based upon ratings of efficiency and fitness; and
for a system of terminations for cause. The administrator may by regulation impose
limitations upon political activities on the part of employees of Louisiana Works who
administer programs and services under the Louisiana Employment Security Law which may
be in addition to any limitations otherwise provided by law; he may also adopt such
regulations as may be necessary to meet personnel standards promulgated by the Social
Security Board pursuant to the Social Security Act, as amended, and the Wagner-Peyser Act
(29 U.S.C. 49(c)) and provide for the maintenance of the merit system established under this
Section in conjunction with any merit system for any other state agency which meets the
personnel standards promulgated by the Social Security Board.
B. Whenever in this Chapter the Social Security Board is referred to, it shall be taken
to mean the board created by Act of Congress approved August 14, 1935 (49 Stat. 620),* or
any successor thereto. So long as any law adopted by the Legislature of Louisiana providing
for any general merit system of personnel administration in the civil service of this state
continues in effective operation, and so long as standards promulgated by the Federal Social
Security Board, under the Social Security Act, as amended, are met, the provisions of this
Section shall be of no force and effect, but merit system status acquired by employees under
a merit system established in accordance with the provisions of this Section and
appointments made and registers established under such system are recognized by the state
agency administering such a general merit system of personnel administration in the civil
service of the state.
Amended by Acts 1968, No. 42, §4; Acts 1992, No. 447, §1, eff. June 20, 1992; Acts
1997, No. 1172, §4, eff. June 30, 1997; Acts 2008, No. 743, §7, eff. July 1, 2008.
*42 U.S.C.A. §301.