HB1358

House Bill 1358 amends Arkansas law concerning civil service regulations for municipal fire and police departments. The bill increases the maximum age limit for new fire department appointments from 32 to 35 years for individuals with prior paid firefighting experience. It mandates that municipal fire departments fill entry-level vacancies within six months if an eligibility list is available, subject to funding and local governing body approval. The bill expands the department head's selection authority for appointments by allowing them to choose from the top five candidates on the eligibility list, rather than the previous three. Additionally, it extends the maximum probation period for new fire department appointees from 12 months to 18 months. Finally, the bill establishes a 60-day deadline for making promotions when a vacancy exists and an eligibility list is current, while also regulating the duration of temporary promotions.