CIVIL SERVICE

Los Angeles City Charter tit. II, art. X, pt. CIVIL SERVICE

in effect

Los Angeles City Charter § 1000 Applicability.

Sec. 1000. Applicability. The provisions of this Article shall apply to all employees of the City, except for those specifically exempted in Section 1001.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1001 Exemptions.

Sec. 1001. Exemptions. Each of the following positions shall be exempt from this Article: (a) Exempt Positions. (1) All officers elected by the people. (2) All members of the boards of commissioners. (3) All chief administrative officers of the City's departments and offices and the Directors of the Public Works' Bureaus of Contract Administration, Engineering, Sanitation, Street Lighting and Street Services. (4) Two positions in the class of Assistant General Manager or Deputy Director in each City office or department, and two positions in the class of Assistant Director in each of the Public Works Bureaus of Contract Administration, Engineering, Sanitation, Street Lighting and Street Services, and two positions in the class of Deputy Controller in the Office of Controller. (5) All Deputy Chiefs of Police. (6) All Deputy Chiefs of Fire. (7) Positions in the Office of the Mayor. (8) Positions established by the Council for the purpose of assisting the members of the Council in the performance of their duties, except for clerical personnel. (9) All positions in the office of the City Attorney. (10) The Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Water and Power. (11) The Executive Director of the Board of Police Commissioners. (12) The Inspector General of the Police Department. (13) The Executive Director and all personnel of the City Ethics Commission. (14) All Assistant Directors in the Office of the City Administrative Officer. (15) The Traffic Manager and the Port Warden of the Harbor Department. (16) Crossing Guards. (17) All physicians and psychologists subject to Section 1040. (18) All officers of election. (19) Persons specially employed by the City Clerk, as authorized by the provisions of Section 405 of the Charter, to assist in the conduct of any election. (20) Positions elsewhere specifically exempted by the Charter. (b) Management, Professional, Scientific or Expert Services. In addition to those positions described in subsections (a), (c) and (d) of this section, up to 150 persons to provide management services or to render professional, scientific or expert services of an exceptional character to offices or departments including the Proprietary Departments. Appointments under this subsection shall be subject to the following: (1) As to each position to be exempted under this subsection, and prior to the initiation of the selection process to fill the position, the Mayor shall forward to the Council a recommendation for an exempt position which sets forth the educational, experience and other professional requirements of the position and describes the circumstances presented by the department seeking the appointment that preclude filling the position through the civil service system. Within ten Council meeting days from receipt of the recommendation, the Council may by two-thirds vote disapprove the Mayor’s recommendation for the exemption. If the Council does not act on the recommendation within the specified time period, the recommendation shall be deemed approved. When the position is vacated, the exemption shall terminate unless re-authorized in accordance with this subsection. (2) No person may be employed under this subsection if he or she has served in an exempt position in the office of an elected City official in the prior two years unless he or she meets the professional experience requirements established for the position. (3) Persons who have been exempted or who have been appointed to an exempt position prior to the effective date of this Charter, will retain their exemption. Exemptions under this subsection shall be prospective and shall be made only at the time of filling a vacant position. (4) Council may, by ordinance adopted by two-thirds vote, increase the maximum number of exempt positions as provided in subsection (b) to no more than one percent (1%) of the regular authorized positions in the City workforce, provided that if the maximum number of exempt positions is increased pursuant to this subsection, the number of positions created by subsections (a) (4), (5) and (c) of this section shall be counted toward the maximum allowable exemptions. If Council provides for a maximum number of exemptions based on a percentage of the workforce, and a reduction in the workforce results in more filled exempt positions than permissible, each incumbent shall retain the exemption, but when vacated, such excess exemptions shall terminate. (c) Proprietary Department Positions. In addition to the exempt positions in the Proprietary Departments created by subsections (a), (b)(1), (2), (3) and (d) of this section, up to 15 positions in the Department of Water and Power and up to ten positions to be allocated between the Harbor Department and the Department of Airports for employment of persons to provide management services or to render professional, scientific or expert services of an exceptional character. Exemption of these positions shall be subject to the following: (1) Upon receipt of a request for an exempt position by the department which sets forth the educational, experience and other professional requirements of the position and describes the circumstances that preclude filling the position through the civil service system, the Mayor shall forward to the Council a recommendation for the exempt position. Within ten Council meeting days from receipt of the recommendation, the Council may by two-thirds vote disapprove the Mayor’s recommendation for the exemption. If the Council does not act on the recommendation within the specified time period, the recommendation shall be deemed approved. (2) No person may be employed under this subsection if he or she has served in an exempt position in the office of an elected City official in the prior two years unless he or she meets the professional experience requirements established for the position. (3) Persons who have been exempted or who have been appointed to an exempt position prior to the effective date of this Charter, shall retain their exemption. Exemptions under this subsection shall be prospective and shall be made only at the time of filling a vacant position. (d) Positions Approved by Council. In addition to the exempt positions created in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section, any of the following may be exempted from the provisions of this Article upon the request of the head of the department or office in which they are employed, by order of the Board of Civil Service Commissioners, approved by the Council by resolution: (1) positions of unskilled laborers, including drivers; (2) positions for workers, mechanics or craftspersons (including crew leaders) employed exclusively in that position on the construction of public works, improvements or buildings; (3) any position requiring the services of one individual for not more than half time and paying a salary not to exceed three-fourths of the monthly rate established by the salary fixing authority of the department, division or office for entering-level clerical positions; (4) grant-funded positions for a term of no more than two years which, by application of the procedures described in this subsection, may be extended for one additional year for a maximum exemption period of three years. Any exemption made under the provisions of (1) through (4) may be terminated at any time by resolution of the Board of Civil Service Commissioners. (e) Leave of Absence from Civil Service. Each person exempted or appointed to an exempt position under this section shall, during the period of exempt employment, be considered as being on leave of absence from the classified civil service if at the time of exemption he or she holds a position in the classified civil service, or is entitled to hold a position therein, and shall continue, during such period, to accrue seniority credit the same as though serving in such position. SECTION HISTORY Amended by: Subsec. (a), Charter Amendment Q § 1, approved March 8, 2011, effective April 8, 2011; Subsec. (a)(13), Charter Amendment ER, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025; Subsec. (a)(14), Charter Amendment II, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1002 Employees of Acquired Public Utility.

Sec. 1002. Employees of Acquired Public Utility. All persons employed in the operating service of any public utility acquired by the City, who have been so employed for at least one year immediately prior to the date of the acquisition, may be employed by the City in their respective positions to the extent practicable, and, so long as continuously so employed by the City, shall be exempt from the civil service provisions of this Charter.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1003 Classification of Positions.

Sec. 1003. Classification of Positions. The Board of Civil Service Commissioners shall establish classes for all positions of employment. The positions classified by the board shall constitute the classified civil service of the City, and no appointment to any of these positions shall be made except in accordance with the rules adopted by the board under the authority of this Article (the civil service rules). Each class shall be given an appropriate title and shall include all positions sufficiently similar in respect to duties and responsibilities and that have the same requirements as to education, experience, knowledge and ability; the same tests of fitness; and to which the same schedule of compensation may apply with fairness.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1004 Civil Service Rules.

Sec. 1004. Civil Service Rules. The board shall promulgate civil service rules to carry out the purposes of this Article in accordance with applicable law. All rules and any changes to those rules shall be made in writing. The board shall give notice by publication in some daily newspaper circulated in the City of Los Angeles of the place or places where the rules may be obtained, and the date, not less than 30 days after the date of publication, when the rules shall go into effect. The civil service rules shall provide for, among other subjects, examinations, leaves of absence, transfers, temporary appointments, disciplinary hearings, layoffs, and procedures for the review and appeal of determinations by the general manager of the Personnel Department with respect to the civil service provisions of the Charter.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1005 Examinations.

Sec. 1005. Examinations. Positions in the classified civil service shall be filled through competitive examination. Applicants shall be subject to review of experience and character and may be disqualified if it is determined specified requirements are not met. Examinations shall be practical, and shall relate to those matters that will fairly test the relative capacity of the persons examined to discharge the duties of the position to which they seek to be appointed and, when appropriate, shall include, or exclusively consist of, tests of physical qualifications, and manual skill. No limitation or restriction whatsoever shall be imposed, excepting to the extent permitted by applicable state or federal law in the departments of fire and police, fixing a maximum age in excess of which persons shall be deprived from taking examinations for or being employed in the classified civil service. The provisions of Section 104(i) regarding discrimination on the basis of age shall not prohibit fixing a maximum age in the departments of fire and police if otherwise authorized by this section. SECTION HISTORY Amended by: Charter Amendment Q § 2, approved March 8, 2011, effective April 8, 2011.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1006 Credit for Military Service.

Sec. 1006. Credit for Military Service. (a) Subject to the conditions set forth in this section, in all original examinations, the Board of Civil Service Commissioners shall, in addition to all other credits, give a credit of five percent of the total credits specified for an examination to all persons who receive a passing score on the examination and who have served in the armed forces of the United States during time of war or armed insurrection, or during any time when the United States is engaged in active military operations against any foreign power, whether or not war has been formally declared, or when the United States is assisting the United Nations in actions involving the use of armed forces to restore international peace and security (Military Service), if such persons are honorably discharged from active service even if they remain in the military reserve. (b) The five percent (5%) credit shall be granted for a period of five years from the date of release from active Military Service of an eligible person or five years from the date the person becomes available for employment. A person shall be deemed unavailable for employment if the person is a student engaged in a training or educational process approved by the board or is hospitalized as a result of a service-connected injury or illness. (c) A five percent (5%) credit for a period not to exceed five years shall be given to widows or widowers of persons killed while in Military Service. Such five-year period shall commence to run from the date the spouse is deceased. (d) A five percent (5%) credit for a period not to exceed five years shall be given to spouses of persons who are unable to work because of disabilities resulting from Military Service. Such five-year period shall commence to run from the date the board determines that the person became unable to work. (e) Notwithstanding any time limitations set forth in other parts of this section, the five percent (5%) credit shall be provided to all persons with disabilities resulting from Military Service without regard to the date of discharge. For purposes of this subsection, a person shall be deemed disabled if the disability is certified by the Veterans Administration or its successor agency.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1007 Examination Bulletins.

Sec. 1007. Examination Bulletins. Notice of time, place and general scope of every examination shall be given as provided in the civil service rules. SECTION HISTORY Amended by: Charter Amendment II, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1008 Register of Eligible Candidates.

Sec. 1008. Register of Eligible Candidates. The general manager of the Personnel Department shall prepare a register for each class of position in the classified civil service of the persons whose general average standing upon examination for the class is not less than the minimum fixed by the civil service rules, and who are otherwise eligible. These persons shall be listed in the register as candidates in the order of their relative excellence, as determined by their examination without reference to the date of examination. The board may prescribe a minimum score in the written portion of any examination, including credit for past service in examinations for promotion, and may exclude from subsequent portions of the examination any candidate who fails to attain the minimum score. The board may, by its rules, provide for the extension of the life of an eligible list and may delegate to the general manager of the Personnel Department the authority to extend the life of an eligible list for entry-level positions in accordance with the civil service rules.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1009 Promotion.

Sec. 1009. Promotion. The board shall by its rules provide for promotion in the classified civil service on the basis of ascertained merit and seniority in service and examination, and shall provide, in all cases where it is practicable, that vacancies shall be filled by promotion. All examinations for promotion shall be competitive among members of lower ranks who apply for the examination and who have the experience and qualifications required by the board as a prerequisite for taking the examination. The general manager of the Personnel Department shall submit to the appointing authority for each promotion the names of eligible applicants in accordance with Section 1010. In rating eligible candidates, the board shall make an allowance of credits for past service. The announcement of the examination shall state that credits will be given for past service. Upon the written request of the appointing authority, the board may certify the names of those applicants having the highest ratings on the open competitive eligible list whose scores before adjustment for preferential credits are higher than the score of the highest available applicant on the promotional eligible register after credits for past service have been added. Names of candidates shall be removed from the register of eligibles for promotion after they have remained on the register for two years without re-examination. Promotional examinations shall be held at intervals necessary to maintain a register of eligibles for promotional positions in which there are vacancies. The method and rules governing examination and certification for promotions shall be the same as provided for applicants for original appointment, except as otherwise provided in this section.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1010 Certification.

Sec. 1010. Certification. (a) Three Highest Whole Scores. The appointing authority of a department shall notify the board when one or more classified positions are to be filled. The general manager of the Personnel Department shall certify to the appointing authority the names and addresses of those eligibles having the three highest whole scores on the register for the class to which the positions belong. The appointing authority shall fill the positions from the names certified by the general manager within 60 days from the date of certification. Certified test scores shall be made public. (b) Selective Certification. Upon request of the appointing authority and approval by the board, the general manager of the Personnel Department may establish a separate register of eligibles from among those eligibles having the three highest whole scores based on factors such as special skills, licenses, language proficiency and specialized training. (c) Extra Certifications. If there are sufficient eligibles available, the general manager of the Personnel Department shall certify at least five names and addresses more than the number of positions to be filled. If there are less than five available eligibles more than the number of positions to be filled within a range of three whole scores, the general manager of the Personnel Department shall certify the names and addresses of all available eligibles within such additional number of whole scores as necessary to provide a minimum of five available eligibles more than the number of positions to be filled. Where there are remaining on the eligible list less than five available eligibles more than the number of positions to be filled and the general manager of the Personnel Department finds that it is for the good of the civil service, the names of all available eligibles may be certified and appointments may be made from among those available eligibles. (d) Certification Within Range of One or More Whole Scores. In consideration of the number of vacancies to be filled and the likely number of available eligibles within a range of three whole scores, the general manager of the Personnel Department may certify the names and addresses of all available eligibles within a range of one or more whole scores whenever a certification is requested by an appointing authority and there are at least five eligibles available within such range over and above the number of positions to be filled. (e) Order of List. Whenever the general manager of the Personnel Department certifies the names and addresses of eligible candidates, the names shall be listed in the order of the whole scores achieved, except that within the range of each single whole score the names of eligibles shall be listed in random order. (f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any certification from being used concurrently by multiple departments. SECTION HISTORY Amended by: Subsec. (f) repealed, Charter Amendment Q § 3, approved March 8, 2011, effective April 8, 2011; Subsec. (f) added, Charter Amendment II, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1011 Probation.

Sec. 1011. Probation. (a) Length of Probation. A candidate appointed to an entry level classified position shall be employed on probation for a period not exceeding 12 months, with the specific period to be established by the board, and for a period not exceeding 18 months, to be measured from the commencement of recruit training, for those employees appointed under civil service rules and regulations and sworn in, as provided by law, to perform the duties of regular police officers. The civil service rules may provide for a different period of probation for non-entry level employees, not exceeding six months except that a longer period, not exceeding 12 months, may be fixed for management personnel. (b) Termination During Probation. At or before the expiration of the probationary period, the appointing authority may terminate the probationary employee by delivering written notice of termination to the employee assigning in writing the reasons for the termination. The appointing authority shall subsequently notify the board of such termination. Unless the probationary employee is served with written notice of termination during the probationary period, the employee’s appointment shall be deemed complete. SECTION HISTORY Amended by: Subsec. (a), Charter Amendment Q § 4, approved March 8, 2011, effective April 8, 2011.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1012 Removal from and Reinstatement to the Register of Eligible Candidates.

Sec. 1012. Removal from and Reinstatement to the Register of Eligible Candidates. (a) No candidate shall lose his or her place on a register of eligible candidates by certification or rejection, except that the board may remove names of candidates from a register after they have remained on the register for more than two years. (b) The board may, by its rules, provide for striking off names of candidates from open competitive eligible lists established as a result of continuous examinations after they have remained on the list for six months. (c) The civil service rules shall provide for reinstatement to the register of eligibles, on recommendation of the head of the department, of persons who have become separated from the civil service or who have been reduced in rank, other than persons who have been removed for cause. (d) The board may, by its rules, provide for restoration to the register of eligibles, those candidates who are terminated during the probationary period, but the general manager of the Personnel Department may not certify any candidate to the department or office which terminated the candidate except at the specific request of the appointing authority of that department or office.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1013 Temporary Appointment.

Sec. 1013. Temporary Appointment. (a) Length of Appointment. To prevent stoppage of public business or to meet extraordinary exigencies, any appointing authority may make temporary appointments to classified positions in accordance with civil service rules that the board shall prescribe. The board shall have the power to authorize such temporary appointments until an eligible list is established, but for no longer than one year. (b) Termination. Any temporary appointment shall terminate immediately when a regular appointment can be made unless the board finds that for a specified period it is necessary that the temporary employee remain to orient or train the new regular appointee. (c) Temporary and Intermittent Appointments. The civil service rules shall provide for the tenure of persons appointed from a register of eligibles to positions determined by the board to be temporary or intermittent in character. Any rules adopted pursuant to this subsection shall provide that when appointment is made to a position determined to be temporary or intermittent, the provisions of Section 1011 with respect to period of probation and completion of appointment shall not apply. SECTION HISTORY Amended by: Subsec. (a), Charter Amendment Q § 5, approved March 8, 2011, effective April 8, 2011.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1014 Special Reassignments.

Sec. 1014. Special Reassignments. (a) Reassignment Without Examination. In addition to and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1015, the board may by its rules provide for status and seniority for civil service employees in classes other than those for which they were examined, where: (1) an employee is incapable of performing satisfactorily the duties of his or her position because of injury, sickness or disability; or (2) an employee has completed a probationary period in the City service. (b) Requirements for Reassignment. Any rules adopted by the board pursuant to this section shall provide that: (1) no employee may be placed in a different class without first receiving the employee’s written consent to the reassignment; (2) no change of class status may be allowed if it would result in a promotion; (3) no employee may be placed in a different class unless the employee possesses the minimum qualifications required for the class and the capability of performing the required duties; (4) no employee who is placed in a different class pursuant to the provisions of this section may be credited with more seniority than accumulated in the employee’s former class.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1015 Layoffs.

Sec. 1015. Layoffs. In addition to all other matters, the board shall by its rules provide for the following: (a) Order of Suspension and Restoration. The civil service rules shall provide the manner and order, not inconsistent with the provisions of this section, in which all persons employed in the classified civil service shall be suspended and restored where the suspension results from lack of work, lack of funds or abolishment of position or otherwise, excepting suspension for personal delinquency. In all cases, suspension and restoration shall be based upon seniority as provided in this section, or as provided by the civil service rules. No assignment of employees to positions within a class, except as provided in this section, for which no different examination requirements have been established by the board shall affect the requirements of this section governing suspension and restoration for lack of work, lack of funds or abolishment of position or otherwise. In all of these cases, all employees within the same Class-Group, as defined below, and for which similar examinations are required by the board shall be considered as one Class-Group for purposes of suspension and restoration. Whenever suspension other than for personal delinquency is to be made in any class in an office, department, bureau or major division in a department having control of its own funds (Class-Group), the person to be suspended shall be selected in the order determined by length of service in such class and in classes of higher rank since regular appointment in the classified civil service, after deducting periods of absence in accordance with the civil service rules. Persons having the shortest length of service shall be suspended first. (b) Displacement. Any person so suspended shall be entitled to displace the person holding a position in a Class-Group in which a regular position was formerly held by the person so suspended, who has the shortest length of service in such Class-Group and in classes of higher rank after deducting periods of absence as provided by the civil service rules. Any person entitled to displace a person may fill instead, with the consent of the appointing authority, a vacant position in the Class-Group in which he or she is entitled to displace. In the event an employee exercises his or her right to displacement, the employee shall receive the salary at the level of the highest paygrade in the Class-Group which the employee held prior to leaving the Class-Group. (c) Determination of Class-Groups. The Class-Group in which suspension is to be made or the Class-Group in which restoration is to be made, shall include all positions created from such Class-Group after the original regular appointment therein of the person suspended or restored. The determination of the board as to the Class-Group from which such positions were subsequently created shall be final and conclusive. (d) Reserve List. A reserve list shall be established in each class in each office, department, bureau or division of a department having control of its own funds which shall consist of the names of those persons who have been regularly appointed or promoted to, and have served beyond the probationary period in a class and have been suspended for causes other than personal delinquency. Each person whose name appears on the reserve list, until regularly restored to a position in the class in the office, department, bureau or division from which he or she was suspended shall be certified for appointment to a position in the class in the office, department, bureau or division from which he or she was suspended. The name of any person who has been out of the service of the City for more than five years shall be permanently removed from the reserve list. (e) Order of Certification. Whenever any vacancy is to be filled, it shall be filled by certifying in the following order: (1) from the reserve list, if any, in the class and office, department, bureau or major division in which the vacancy exists, the name of the person with greatest length of service in the class and all classes of higher rank, or by transfer of a person whose service in the class and classes of higher rank is greater than that of any person on the reserve list. (2) from the promotional list, if any, provided for in Section 1009, of the office, department, bureau or major division where the vacancy is to be filled; (3) from the reserve list of other offices, departments, bureaus and major divisions as provided in the civil service rules; (4) by certifying from the appropriate register of eligibles provided in this Article. As to certifications to be made from other than the reserve list of the office, department, bureau or major division in which the vacancy exists, the board may by its rules provide that when the list or register from which certification is to be made does not contain as many names as may be certified for any vacancy or vacancies under the provisions of Section 1010, additional names, up to but not exceeding the maximum number allowed, shall be certified from the list or register next in the order as provided above. (f) Procedural Review. The board shall have the same power and duty to review as to regularity of procedure all cases of suspension for lack of work, lack of funds or abolishment of position or otherwise, as elsewhere provided in the Charter for removal, discharge, or suspension for cause; but the question of the necessity for suspension for lack of work, lack of funds or abolishment of position shall not be subject to review by the board.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1016 Discharge or Suspension.

Sec. 1016. Discharge or Suspension. (a) Discharge or Suspension for Cause. Any board or officer having the power of appointment shall have the power to suspend or discharge any officer, member or employee of the office or department. No person in the classified civil service shall be discharged or suspended except for cause, which shall be stated in writing by the board or officer having the power to make such discharge or suspension. (b) Statement of Cause. The written statement of cause shall be filed with the Board of Civil Service Commissioners, with certification that a copy has been served upon the person so discharged or suspended, in accordance with Section 1018. Upon filing with the board, the discharge or suspension shall take effect. (c) Application for Hearing. Within five days of service of the written statement upon any person so discharged or suspended, the person shall file a written application with the board in order to require the board to hold a hearing to investigate the grounds for the discharge or suspension. In the event that the person does not file an application, the board may, but is not required to, within 15 days after the filing of the written statement with the board, determine to hold a hearing to investigate the grounds for the discharge or suspension. (d) Reinstatement; Restoration. If, after investigation and hearing as required by law is held, the board finds, in writing, that the grounds stated for the discharge or suspension were insufficient or were not sustained, the board shall order the person to be reinstated or restored to duty. With the consent of the appointing authority, the board may also reduce the length of the suspension, or may substitute suspension for discharge, if the board makes a written finding that such action is warranted. The order of the board with respect to the discharge or suspension shall be promptly certified to the appointing board or officer, and shall be final and conclusive. (e) Compensation. If the board orders reinstatement or restoration to duty of a person who has been discharged or suspended, the person shall be entitled to receive compensation from the City the same as if he or she had not been discharged or suspended by the appointing board or officer. (f) Change of Disciplinary Review. The Council may, by ordinance, provide for an alternative system for impartial review of employee discipline as set forth in subsections (b) through (e) of this section, provided that such a system conforms with due process standards for a fair hearing, and provided there remains a process for review of employee discipline in which costs are borne by the City. (g) Finality of Order of Suspension for Lack of Funds. The order of any appointing board or officer suspending any person because of lack of funds or lack of work in the department shall be final, and shall not be subject to review by the Board of Civil Service Commissioners. (h) Applicability. The procedure for review of discipline set forth in this section shall not apply to: (1) those members of the Police Department appointed under civil service rules and regulations and sworn in, as provided by law, to perform the duties of regular police officers who are subject to the provisions of Section 1070 of the Charter. (2) those members of the Fire Department appointed under civil service rules and regulations to perform the duties of regular firefighters who are subject to the provisions of Section 1060 of the Charter. (3) any suspension of five working days or less in any 12 month period for personal delinquency. The reasons stated in writing for any suspension shall be furnished to the suspended employee and promptly filed with the board. Any suspension which results in an employee having a total suspended time by reason of the exercise of authority under this subsection in excess of five working days in any 12 month period shall be subject to all of the provisions of this section.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1017 Demand for Reinstatement; Claim for Compensation.

Sec. 1017. Demand for Reinstatement; Claim for Compensation. Whenever it is claimed by any person that he or she has been unlawfully demoted, suspended, laid off or discharged, and that person has filed an application for a hearing as provided in Section 1016(c) and reinstatement or restoration to duty has been denied, the person may file a written claim for compensation and a demand for reinstatement. The claim and demand must be filed within 90 days from the date of the decision of the board following a hearing, or if no hearing is applied for, from the date on which it is claimed that the person was first illegally, wrongfully or invalidly demoted, laid off, suspended or discharged. The demand for reinstatement must be filed with the board and the claim for compensation must be filed with the City Clerk. Failure to file a demand for reinstatement with proof of filing with the board, within the time specified in this section, shall be a bar to any action to compel reinstatement. Proof of filing with the City Clerk of the claim for compensation within the time and in the manner specified shall be a condition precedent to any recovery of wages or salary claimed to be due on account of demotion, layoff, suspension or discharge. Except as provided in this section, claims for compensation shall conform to the requirements of Section 350.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1018 Service of Notice.

Sec. 1018. Service of Notice. Service of notice in accordance with this Article may be made by handing a copy to the person or by sending a copy by certified mail to the person’s last known residence if, after due diligence, the person cannot be found.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1019 Falsification and Corruption.

Sec. 1019. Falsification and Corruption. (a) Investigation. The board shall investigate the enforcement of the civil service provisions of this Article and the civil service rules. All officers of the City shall aid the board in all proper ways in carrying out the civil service provisions of this Article. (b) Reprimand; Recommendation of Discharge or Suspension. Any person holding a position in the classified civil service who willfully violates any of the civil service provisions of this Article shall, after hearing by the board, be subject to reprimand by the board. The board shall have the right to recommend suspension, discharge, or in lieu of discharge, demotion of the person to the appointing power. (c) Misdemeanors. The following conduct is a violation of this Article and shall be punishable as a misdemeanor: (1) any oral or written false statement willfully made under oath in any application or document filed with the board, in any proceeding before the board, in any investigation conducted by or under the jurisdiction of the board, or in any proceeding arising under this Article. (2) any conduct, whether done alone or in cooperation with others to defeat, deceive or obstruct any person in respect to his or her right of examination; to corruptly or falsely mark, grade, estimate, or report upon the examination of proper standing of any person examined under the civil service provisions, or aid in so doing; or to willfully or corruptly furnish to any person any special or secret information for the purpose of either improving or injuring the prospects of any person for employment or promotion. (3) direct or indirect payment or promise of payment of money or other valuable consideration to any person for appointment, proposed appointment, or promotion to a position in the classified civil service.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1020 Certification of Employment.

Sec. 1020. Certification of Employment. The Controller shall not approve any compensation for services to any person performing the duties of a position in the classified civil service, unless the board has certified that the person has been employed in accordance with this Article and the civil service rules.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1021 Employment Upon Consolidation or Annexation of Other Governmental Entities.

Sec. 1021. Employment Upon Consolidation or Annexation of Other Governmental Entities. Officers and employees of any governmental agency, municipality or any special assessment or other special district created under general laws, all or part of which may become part of the City through consolidation, annexation or joint powers agreement, may upon Council approval of the consolidation, annexation or joint powers agreement become employees of the City in a similar capacity as provided in this section. In order to avoid suspension for lack of work of employees of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), the Council may, by resolution, direct the Board of Civil Service Commissioners to develop procedures allowing placement, as provided in this section, of CRA employees in civil service positions for which they are qualified in any City office or department except the Department of Water and Power. Appointment would be made only at the discretion of the City department or office where there is a vacancy, and only after persons on a department reserve list, if any, have been offered the position in accordance with civil service rules. Upon consideration of the resolution regarding CRA employees or consolidation, annexation, or joint powers agreement, but prior to final approval, the Council shall request that the Board of Civil Service Commissioners establish the qualifications, fitness requirements and background standards for the prospective employees and establish the method of determining that the prospective employees meet those qualifications, requirements and standards. The board shall also establish the appropriate employment classifications, length of probationary periods, and seniority for layoff and examination purposes for the prospective employees. The Council may establish terms and conditions of employment in addition to those provided elsewhere in the Charter, and in addition to or different from those provided by ordinance, by memorandum of understanding or otherwise. Those employees who are determined by the board to have met the qualifications, requirements, and standards established by the board, and who meet all other legally applicable requirements, shall become employees of the City upon final approval of the consolidation, annexation or joint powers agreement by the Council or, in the case of individual CRA employees, upon approval of the appointment by the board. If the duties of any officer or employee of any municipality or any special assessment or other special district conflict with the duties of any officer of the City, then that officer or employee shall become an employee of the City in a position subordinate to the officer of the City.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1022 Use of Independent Contractors.

Sec. 1022. Use of Independent Contractors. Nothing in this Article shall be deemed or construed as preventing the Council, or a board of commissioners in the case of those departments having control of their own revenues and funds, from entering into contracts for the performance of work when it is determined by the Council or the board of commissioners that the work can be performed more economically or feasibly by independent contractors than by City employees. The authority of the Council set forth in this section may be delegated to departments and officers of the City under rules and procedures as the Council may prescribe. Nothing in this section shall limit the application of Sections 370 through 373 of the Charter relating to contracts and competitive bidding for contracts.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1023 Military Leave.

Sec. 1023. Military Leave. Every officer or employee who leaves his or her office or position to serve in the armed forces of the United States shall be entitled to a leave of absence and, upon returning to the service of the City, shall be entitled to restoration to the position to which he or she would have been entitled as if the leave had not occurred, subject to applicable state and federal law and as further provided by ordinance.

Los Angeles City Charter § 1024 Non-discrimination.

Sec. 1024. Non-discrimination. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter, the City shall not discriminate in the provision of employee benefits between employees with spouses and employees with domestic partners. The Council shall adopt ordinances to implement this provision.

Source: City of Los Angeles, Charter and Codes (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/los_angeles/latest/laac/0-0-0-3935Fetched: 10/24/2026