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Regular Session, 2010
SENATE BILL NO. 558
BY SENATOR WALSWORTH AND REPRESENTATI VE TUCKER
STATE AGENCIES. Creates the Louisiana Bicentennial Commission. (gov sig)
AN ACT1
To enact Chapter 27 of Title 25 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised2
of R.S. 25:1231 through 1237, and R.S. 36:209(Q); to create the Louisiana3
Bicentennial Commission; to provide for membership of the commission and its4
operation; to provide relative to powers, duties, and activities of the commission; to5
provide relative to funds and property of the commission; to provide for termination6
of the commission; and to provide for related matters.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. Chapter 27 of Title 25 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,9
comprised of R.S. 25:1231 through 1237, is hereby enacted to read as follows:10
CHAPTER 27. LOUISIANA BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION11
§1231. Declaration of purpose12
A. The Legislature of Louisiana hereby recognizes that the year 201213
marks the two hundredth anniversary of Louisiana's attainment of statehood14
upon its admission by Congress as the eighteenth state in the Union.15
B. The legislature further recognizes that, as the state approaches its16
bicentennial of statehood, it is appropriate to celebrate and commemorate this17 SB NO. 558
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anniversary through local and statewide observances and activities planned,1
encouraged, coordinated, and conducted by a commission created for such2
purpose.3
§1232. Louisiana Bicentennial Commission; creation; appointments of4
members; officers; meetings; domicile5
A. The Louisiana Bicentennial Commission, hereafter referred to as the6
"commission," is hereby created and established in the Department of Culture,7
Recreation and Tourism for the purpose of leading the state in its8
commemoration of attaining statehood.9
B.(1) The commission shall consist of members appointed as follows:10
(a) Three members appointed by the governor.11
(b) Three members appointed by the lieutenant governor.12
(c) Three members appointed by the president of the Senate.13
(d) Three members appointed by the speaker of the House of14
Representatives.15
(2) Members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. A16
vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner17
as the original appointment.18
C. The members of the commission shall elect a chairman, vice19
chairman, and other officers, and may employ such staff as they deem necessary20
for the efficient operation of the business of the commission.21
D. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation,22
but they shall be reimbursed, on a vouchered basis, for actual expenses,23
including travel expenses, to the extent that funds are made available for such24
purpose; however, no public funds shall be expended by the commission unless25
specifically appropriated by the legislature for such purpose.26
E. The commission shall hold its initial meeting no later than October 1,27
2010, and thereafter shall meet at least monthly according to a schedule28
established by it. Special meetings shall be held on call of the chairman or of a29 SB NO. 558
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quorum of the members of the commission. For all regular or special meetings,1
the chairman or other members calling the meeting shall give at least seven days2
notice to the members of the commission of the time and place where the3
meeting will be held. A majority of the members of the commission shall4
constitute a quorum for the transaction of any and all business at any regular5
or special meeting.6
F. The commission shall be domiciled in Baton Rouge but may hold7
public meetings elsewhere in the state.8
§1233. Powers and duties9
The commission shall:10
(1) Plan and develop activities appropriate to commemorate the11
bicentennial of Louisiana's statehood, including a limited number of projects12
to be undertaken by the state seeking to harmonize and balance the important13
goals of ceremony and celebration with the equally important goals of14
scholarship and education.15
(2) Encourage private organizations and local governments to organize16
and participate in bicentennial activities commemorating and examining the17
historic events associated with Louisiana's statehood.18
(3) Serve as a clearinghouse for collecting and disseminating information19
about bicentennial events and plans in the state.20
(4) Cooperate and coordinate with any similar commission created by21
the United States government or any other state in preparing to commemorate22
and celebrate this important historical event.23
(5) Encourage state agencies to develop bicentennial programs such as24
the creation of commemorative automobile license plates and public programs25
in state and local parks, museums, and libraries.26
(6) Seek cooperation, advice, and assistance from both private and27
governmental agencies and organizations, including local governments, learned28
societies, academic institutions, and historical, patriotic, philanthropic, civic,29 SB NO. 558
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and professional groups and associations.1
(7) Adopt rules and regulations regarding the use of any logos, symbols,2
or marks originated under authority of and certified by the commission for use3
in connection with the state commemoration of the bicentennial, or any4
facsimile thereof.5
§1234. Funding; donations and grants6
The commission may solicit, accept, use, and dispose of any private or7
public funds in the form of donations of money, grants, property, or personal8
services from individuals, corporations, and governments for such purposes, all9
in accordance with R.S. 36:810 and this Chapter. The office of management10
and finance of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism may adopt11
any necessary rules or procedures for determining the value of donations to the12
commission. The commission shall, by April 1, 2011, present to the Joint13
Legislative Committee on the Budget a master plan outlining the goals,14
objectives, and performance indicators of the commission for the duration of its15
existence, which shall include projected expenditures of the commission.16
§1235. Annual report17
The commission shall submit an annual report to the lieutenant18
governor, the president of the Senate, and the speaker of the House of19
Representatives. Such report shall be submitted no later than sixty days prior20
to the beginning of the regular session of the legislature in 2011 and 2012. The21
reports shall include specific recommendations and plans for commemorating22
and coordinating the bicentennial and related activities.23
§1236. Cooperation by other state entities24
All departments, commissions, boards, agencies, officers, and institutions25
of the state and all subdivisions thereof shall cooperate with the commission in26
carrying out the purposes of this Chapter.27
§1237. Termination of commission28
The commission shall terminate on December 31, 2012.29 SB NO. 558
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Section 2. R.S. 36:209(Q) is hereby enacted to read as follows:1
§209. Transfer of boards, commissions, departments, and agencies to Department of2
Culture, Recreation and Tourism3
* * *4
Q. The Louisiana Bicentennial Commission, R.S. 25:1231-1237, shall be5
placed within the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism as provided6
for agencies transferred in accordance with R.S. 36:802.7
* * *8
Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not9
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature10
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If11
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become12
effective on the day following such approval.13
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alden A. Clement, Jr.
DIGEST
Walsworth (SB 558)
Proposed law creates the La. Bicentennial Commission within the Dept. of Culture,
Recreation and Tourism (CRT).
Proposed law provides for 12 commission members appointed as follows: three members
appointed by the governor and three members appointed by the lt. governor; three members
appointed by the Senate president; and three members appointed by the House speaker.
Proposed law allows the commission to employ staff and provides that members are to serve
without compensation but be reimbursed for expenses subject to the availability of funds.
Proposed law provides that no public funds may be expended by the commission unless
specifically appropriated by the legislature. Proposed law requires that the commission hold
its initial meeting not later than Oct. 1, 2010, and meet at least monthly thereafter. Proposed
law provides for commission to be domiciled in Baton Rouge but authorizes it to hold public
meetings elsewhere in the state.
Proposed law provides that the commission is to:
(1)Plan and develop activities to commemorate La.'s bicentennial of statehood.
(2)Encourage private organizations and local governments to participate.
(3)Serve as a clearinghouse for information about bicentennial events and plans.
(4)Cooperate and coordinate with any similar commission throughout the U.S. SB NO. 558
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(5)Encourage state agencies to develop bicentennial programs.
(6)Seek cooperation from private and governmental agencies and organizations.
(7)Adopt rules and regulations regarding the use of any logos, symbols, or marks for
use in connection with the bicentennial commemoration.
Proposed law authorizes the commission to solicit, accept, use, and dispose of money and
other property. Provides that CRT may adopt rules or procedures for determining the value
of donations.
Proposed law requires the commission, by April 1, 2011, to present the Joint Legislative
Committee on the Budget a master plan, including projected expenditures, and to submit an
annual report to the lieutenant governor and the presiding officers of the legislature at least
30 days prior to the beginning of 2011 and 2012 R.S.
Proposed law requires the cooperation of state agencies, officials, and subdivisions in
carrying out proposed law.
Proposed law places the commission in CRT pursuant to present law, which grants
policymaking and rulemaking authority to the commission but grants CRT certain personnel
and fiscal and budgetary authority.
Proposed law provides that the commission shall terminate on Dec. 31, 2012.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 25:1231-1237 and R.S. 36:209(Q))