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Regular Session, 2010 ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 558
BY SENATOR WALSWORTH AND REPRESENTATI VE TUCKER
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
anniversary through local and statewide observances and activities planned,18
encouraged, coordinated, and conducted by a commission created for such19
purpose.20
§1232. Louisiana Bicentennial Commission; creation; appointments of21
members; officers; meetings; domicile22
A. The Louisiana Bicentennial Commission, hereafter referred to as the23
"commission," is hereby created and established in the Department of Culture,24
Recreation and Tourism for the purpose of leading the state in its25
commemoration of attaining statehood.26
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B.(1) The commission shall consist of members appointed as follows:1
(a) Three members appointed by the governor.2
(b) Three members appointed by the lieutenant governor.3
(c) Three members appointed by the president of the Senate.4
(d) Three members appointed by the speaker of the House of5
Representatives.6
(2) Members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. A7
vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner8
as the original appointment.9
(3) All initial appointments to the board shall be made by July 31, 2010.10
(4) The twelve members of the commission shall be appointed in such11
a manner that at least one member shall be from each congressional district in12
the state of Louisiana as each such district exists on the effective date of this13
Paragraph. In addition, the appointing authorities shall make such14
appointments in such manner as to assure that the commission membership15
shall reflect as nearly as possible a cross section of the race, gender, and16
economic status of the state's population.17
C. The members of the commission shall elect a chairman, vice18
chairman, and other officers, and may employ such staff as they deem necessary19
for the efficient operation of the business of the commission.20
D. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation,21
but they shall be reimbursed, on a vouchered basis, for actual expenses,22
including travel expenses, to the extent that funds are made available for such23
purpose; however, no public funds shall be expended by the commission unless24
specifically appropriated by the legislature for such purpose.25
E. The commission shall hold its initial meeting no later than September26
1, 2010, and thereafter shall meet at least monthly according to a schedule27
established by it. Special meetings shall be held on call of the chairman or of a28
quorum of the members of the commission. For all regular or special meetings,29
the chairman or other members calling the meeting shall give at least seven days30 SB NO. 558 ENROLLED
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notice to the members of the commission of the time and place where the1
meeting will be held. A majority of the members of the commission shall2
constitute a quorum for the transaction of any and all business at any regular3
or special meeting.4
F. The commission shall be domiciled in Baton Rouge but may hold5
public meetings elsewhere in the state.6
§1233. Powers and duties7
The commission shall:8
(1) Plan and develop activities appropriate to commemorate the9
bicentennial of Louisiana's statehood, including a limited number of projects10
to be undertaken by the state seeking to harmonize and balance the important11
goals of ceremony and celebration with the equally important goals of12
scholarship and education.13
(2) Encourage private organizations and local governments to organize14
and participate in bicentennial activities commemorating and examining the15
historic events associated with Louisiana's statehood.16
(3) Serve as a clearinghouse for collecting and disseminating information17
about bicentennial events and plans in the state.18
(4) Cooperate and coordinate with any similar commission created by19
the United States government or any other state in preparing to commemorate20
and celebrate this important historical event.21
(5) Encourage state agencies to develop bicentennial programs such as22
the creation of commemorative automobile license plates and public programs23
in state and local parks, museums, and libraries.24
(6) Seek cooperation, advice, and assistance from both private and25
governmental agencies and organizations, including local governments, learned26
societies, academic institutions, and historical, patriotic, philanthropic, civic,27
and professional groups and associations.28
(7) Adopt rules and regulations regarding the use of any logos, symbols,29
or marks originated under authority of and certified by the commission for use30 SB NO. 558 ENROLLED
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in connection with the state commemoration of the bicentennial, or any1
facsimile thereof.2
§1234. Funding; donations and grants3
The commission may solicit, accept, use, and dispose of any private or4
public funds in the form of donations of money, grants, property, or personal5
services from individuals, corporations, and governments for such purposes, all6
in accordance with R.S. 36:810 and this Chapter. The office of management7
and finance of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism may adopt8
any necessary rules or procedures for determining the value of donations to the9
commission. The commission shall, by April 1, 2011, present to the Joint10
Legislative Committee on the Budget a master plan outlining the goals,11
objectives, and performance indicators of the commission for the duration of its12
existence, which shall include projected expenditures of the commission.13
§1235. Annual report14
The commission shall submit an annual report to the lieutenant15
governor, the president of the Senate, and the speaker of the House of16
Representatives. Such report shall be submitted no later than sixty days prior17
to the beginning of the regular session of the legislature in 2011 and 2012. The18
report shall include specific recommendations and plans for commemorating19
and coordinating the bicentennial and related activities.20
§1236. Cooperation by other state entities21
All departments, commissions, boards, agencies, officers, and institutions22
of the state and all subdivisions thereof shall cooperate with the commission in23
carrying out the purposes of this Chapter.24
§1237. Termination of commission25
The commission shall terminate on December 31, 2012.26
Section 2. R.S. 36:209(Q) is hereby enacted to read as follows:27
§209. Transfer of boards, commissions, departments, and agencies to Department of28
Culture, Recreation and Tourism29
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Q. The Louisiana Bicentennial Commission, R.S. 25:1231-1237, shall be1
placed within the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism as provided2
for agencies transferred in accordance with R.S. 36:802.3
* * *4
Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not5
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature6
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If7
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become8
effective on the day following such approval.9
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: