HLS 10RS-674 ORIGINAL
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are additions.
Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE BILL NO. 413
BY REPRESENTATIVE BARROW
LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Provides relative to meetings of the board of aldermen in a
Lawrason Act municipality
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 33:405(A)(2) and (C) and 421, relative to meetings of the board2
of aldermen in a Lawrason Act municipality; to provide for regular and special3
meetings of the board; to remove prohibitions on business discussed at special4
meetings; to provide for minutes of board meetings; and to provide for related5
matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 33:405(A)(2) and (C) and 421 are hereby amended and reenacted to8
read as follows:9
§405. Meetings of board of aldermen; notice; quorum; compensation10
A.11
* * *12
(2) The mayor and board of aldermen shall hold not less than one regular13
meeting in each month on a date and at a place and hour to be fixed by ordinance.14
The board shall give public notice of the contents of this ordinance pursuant to R.S.15
42:7.16
* * *17
C. Special meetings of the mayor and board of aldermen may be called by18
the mayor or a majority of the members of the board. The board shall establish by19
ordinance how notice of special meetings shall be provided to members of the board20 HLS 10RS-674 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 413
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and the mayor. The notice for a special meeting shall specify the business to be1
considered at the special meeting. Public notice shall be given as provided in R.S.2
42:7. No business, except that specified in the notice of the special meeting, shall3
be considered at the meeting unless approved by two-thirds of the aldermen present4
at the meeting.5
* * *6
§421. Duties of clerk; records to be kept7
The clerk shall keep a book to be labeled "Municipal Minutes, City of8
_____," or "Town of _____," or "Village of _____," as the case may be, in which he9
shall record the proceedings of the mayor and board of aldermen, and keep the same10
fully indexed alphabetically, so that all entries on the minutes can be easily found.11
The clerk shall be the custodian of the municipal seal, which each municipality shall12
adopt and provide. The clerk shall keep a book, to be styled "Municipal Docket, City13
of _____," or "Town of _____," or "Village of _____," as the case may be, upon14
which he shall enter each claim against the municipality, and each subject matter to15
be acted upon by the mayor and board of aldermen. After each meeting he shall16
make up such docket for the next regular meeting. He shall examine the statutes of17
the State state and the ordinances of the municipality to ascertain subject matter18
required or proper to be acted upon at the following meeting and shall docket all19
such matters. He shall keep such other books and records as may be provided for by20
ordinance, and shall file in his office and preserve all records and papers appertaining21
to the business of the municipality. He shall keep a book to be styled "Tax Record,22
City (or town, or village) of _____," in which he shall enter all deeds to individuals,23
and the list of lands sold to the municipality by the tax collector, showing (a)24
description of the land, (b) as whose property sold, (c) date of sale, (d) amount of25
taxes, costs, and damages due, and to whom the costs are owing, (e) when redeemed,26
(f) by whom redeemed, (g) date of redemption, and (h) amount paid therefor.27 HLS 10RS-674 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 413
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are additions.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Barrow HB No. 413
Abstract: Provides relative to meetings of the board of aldermen in a Lawrason Act
municipality.
Present law provides for the powers and duties of the mayor and of the board of aldermen
in Lawrason Act municipalities.
Present law provides for regular meetings of the board of aldermen. Further provides for the
calling of special meetings of the board by the mayor or by a majority of the board. Present
law further provides that the mayor shall preside over meetings of the board of aldermen and
that he shall have the authority to cast the tie-breaking vote in the occurrence of a board
impasse.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law designates meetings of the board of aldermen as meetings of "the mayor and
board of aldermen". Proposed law designates the meetings as meetings of "the board of
aldermen".
Present law prohibits the discussion of business at special meetings of the board of aldermen
that was not specified in the local notice advertising the meeting, unless such discussion is
approved by 2/3 of the aldermen present. Proposed law removes this prohibition.
Present law, relative to open meetings and applicable to municipal governing bodies,
requires that written public notice be given regarding special meetings of public bodies,
which notice shall include the agenda. Authorizes the body to take up a matter not on the
agenda if unanimously approved by the members present. Proposed law retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 33:405(A)(2) and (C) and 421)