Legislation that provides an incentive payment of $5,000 to newly employed law enforcement officers was approved by a House Committee yesterday. Houma State Representative Jerome Zeringue says the bill mirrors legislation implemented in Florida.
“The program is based on a Florida program established last year. Florida has recruited over 1,750 law enforcement officers in the past year because of this program.”
HB 563 – authored by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder – creates the Law Enforcement Recruitment Incentive Program allowing individuals to work with the sheriff’s office, city, or state police. Zeringue says individuals must meet eligibility requirements including:..
“They must maintain continuous full-time employment for two years. They must be post-certified and must have permanent job duties that include making arrests, performing searches and seizures, or executing criminal warrants.”
Zerinque says elected or appointed heads are not eligible for the one-time sign-in incentive payment and funding is limited.
“Funding would be granted on a first come first serve bases.”
Bonuses would go to people hired on or after July 1 and would end two years later. The bill now heads to the House Floor.
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