Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Agency Actions Roundup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves exemptions, extensions and pay policies across agencies; multiple motions carry
Summary
At its March meeting the commission approved a slate of exemptions and policy amendments across state agencies — including exempting positions at the Office of Motor Vehicles, extending unclassified roles, approving premium- and special-entry pay policies, and authorizing overtime rules for levee districts — all motions carried without recorded objection.
The State Civil Service commission approved a series of exemptions, extensions and pay-policy amendments affecting multiple state agencies at its March 4 meeting. All motions recorded on the agenda carried without roll-call objections.
Key approvals included: an exemption of one deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Motor Vehicles (effective 03/06/2026–01/10/2028); extension of an emergency services director position for the State Fire Marshal (03/09/2026–03/08/2030); renewal of a Treasury liaison officer exemption through 04/03/2030; and reestablishment of two director positions in the Office of Community Development supporting long-term disaster recovery (staff noted the unit manages a grant portfolio the staff described as exceeding $20,000,000,000). Staff recommended and commissioners approved exemptions and extensions across multiple agencies, citing vacant positions, ongoing modernization projects, and recruitment/retention needs.
Agencies granted exemptions or policy approvals included the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors (inspector positions), the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (a new director of digital process modernization), the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority (six positions), Thrive Academy (attainment-of-advanced-degree policy), the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs (optional pay policy amendments), and LSU A&M (premium pay policy amendments adding several job titles). The commission also approved a special entrance-rate policy for Louisiana Works' rehabilitation services job titles with an estimated implementation cost of about $533,000 and authorized a 5% compression adjustment for existing employees.
The commission approved annual time-and-a-half overtime authorizations for the Lafourche Basin Conservation Levee and Drainage District (requested 04/01/2026–12/31/2026; staff reported 2,430 overtime hours in 2025 costing roughly $72,000) and for the Pontchartrain Levee District (requested 04/01/2026–12/31/2026; staff reported 9,484 overtime hours in 2025 costing roughly $343,000). Other approvals included extension of a job appointment for Sydney Seymour at the Office of Financial Institutions, an allowance for Robin Bivens (Metropolitan Human Services District) to work up to 2,080 hours as a WAE nurse, and ratification of a special interest rate for a paralegal at the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.
Motions were moved and seconded, and commissioners indicated "no objection" in each case; where dollar or hour figures were provided, staff cited agency-provided data in the meeting packet. Several items were routine renewals of previously exempted positions; the commission asked clarifying questions about organizational impacts in a few cases but took no votes to deny or amend requests.
The meeting adjourned to executive session to hear appeals and other legal/personal matters.
