Appeals by employees to the commission

Any regular employee in the classified service, subject to the provisions of this Part, or the rules made pursuant thereto, who deems that he has been removed, dismissed, retired, reduced in pay, demoted, subjected to a second suspension of sixty days or less without pay, or subjected to any other disciplinary action set out in R.S. 33:2423, without just cause, may, within sixty days of the action demand a hearing to determine the reasonableness of the action, and the commission shall grant the employee a hearing within forty-five days after receipt of the request. In the event the hearing is not held within the forty-five day period the employee shall be forthwith reinstated in his position with full pay for lost time, but this shall not jeopardize the right of the commission to finally determine the matter at a later date. After hearing and considering the evidence for and against the disciplinary action, the commission shall approve or disapprove the action. In case of approval the disciplinary action shall be deemed final as ordered. In case of disapproval the commission shall reinstate the employee under the conditions which it deems proper, and may order full pay for lost time. If the commission finds that the disciplinary action was for religious or political reasons, then the employee shall forthwith be reinstated in his position and be reimbursed for any loss of pay occasioned by the disciplinary action. The foregoing provisions of this Section shall not apply to temporary appointments as defined in R.S. 33:2419, and employees during their working test period as provided for in R.S. 33:2417.