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A.  Notwithstanding the provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 33:381 and 381.1 to the contrary, in any municipality with a population of five thousand or less according to the latest federal decennial census, a majority of the qualified electors voting therein may, at a special election called by the governing authority of the municipality for that purpose, authorize the mayor to thereafter appoint a marshal who is the chief of police with the approval of the governing authority or provide for the election of a marshal who is the chief of police.  Such special election shall be called only upon the adoption of an ordinance by a two-thirds vote of the governing authority.  Once such an election has been called and held, no further or other election on the same question shall be held for at least four years.

B.  If the people of any municipality vote to authorize the mayor to appoint the marshal, the first such appointment shall be made at the end of the term of the marshal in office at the time the election was held unless at that time the office of marshal is vacant or the incumbent is an appointed official.  If the people of any municipality vote to elect the marshal, the term for the elected marshal shall begin at the end of the term of the marshal in office at the time the election was held unless at that time the office of marshal is vacant.

C.  Upon the expiration of at least four years after the effective date of any such determination that the marshal shall be an appointed rather than an elected official or an elected rather than an appointed official, the people of any such municipality may determine that said official shall be elected or appointed, as the case may be, but only in the same manner and through the same procedure as hereinabove set forth.

Acts 2003, No. 492, §1.