HLS 11RS-6 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE BILL NO. 380
BY REPRESENTATIVES KATZ AND TUCKER
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
PUBLIC SERVICE COMN: (Constitutional Amendment) Provides with respect to the
Public Service Commission
A JOINT RESOLUTION1
Proposing to amend Article IV, Section 21(A)(1) and Article XIV, Section 20 of the2
Constitution of Louisiana, to provide for the Public Service Commission; to provide3
for the number of members on the Public Service Commission; to provide for4
effectiveness; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors;5
and to provide for related matters.6
Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members7
elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of8
Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to9
amend Article IV, Section 21(A)(1) and Article XIV, Section 20 of the Constitution of10
Louisiana, to read as follows:11
ARTICLE IV. EXECUTIVE BRANCH 12
* * *13
§21. Public Service Commission14
Section 21.(A)(1) Composition; Term; Domicile. There shall be a Public15
Service Commission in the executive branch. It shall consist of five seven members,16
who shall be elected for overlapping terms of six years at the time fixed for17
congressional elections from single member single-member districts established by18
law. The commission annually shall elect one member as chairman. It shall be19 HLS 11RS-6 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 380
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domiciled at the state capital, but may meet, conduct investigations, and render1
orders elsewhere in this state.2
* * *3
ARTICLE XIV. TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS4
* * *5
PART II6
* * *7
§20. Public Service Commission 8
Section 20. At its next extraordinary or regular session, the legislature shall9
divide the state into five single-member districts as required by Article IV, Section10
21(A) and shall provide for a special election at which the two additional members11
of the commission shall be elected, the initial term to be served by each, and other12
matters necessary to effectuate said Section 21(A). Notwithstanding Section 14 of13
this Article, this Section shall provide for the orderly transition to an increased14
number of members on the Public Service Commission as provided in Article IV,15
Section 21(A). At a regular or an extraordinary session prior to the beginning of16
qualifying for the congressional elections to be held in 2012, the legislature shall17
divide the state into seven single-member districts for the purpose of electing18
members to the Public Service Commission, shall provide for the additional19
members of the commission to be elected during the regular congressional elections20
to be held in 2012, and shall provide for any other matters necessary to provide for21
the orderly transition to the increased membership of the Public Service Commission22
pursuant to Article IV, Section 21(A)(1) as amended.23
Section 2. Be it further resolved that, if approved by a majority of the electors voting24
on the proposal, the proposed amendment to Article XIV, Section 20 of the Constitution of25
Louisiana shall become effective twenty days after the proclamation of the governor as26
provided in Article XIII, Section 1(C) and the proposed amendment to Article IV, Section27
21(A)(1) of the Constitution of Louisiana shall become effective for election purposes only28 HLS 11RS-6 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 380
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at the beginning of qualifying as provided by law for the regular statewide election to be held1
in 2012 and shall become effective for all purposes on January 1, 2013.2
Section 3. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted3
to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on October 22,4
2011.5
Section 4. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at said election6
there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted7
to vote FOR or AGAINST, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall8
read as follows:9
To increase the number of members on the Public Service Commission from10
five to seven. (Effective for certain purposes necessary for implementation11
in 2011; effective for election purposes in 2012; and effective for all12
purposes on January 1, 2013.) (Amends Article IV, Section 21(A)(1) and13
Article XIV, Section 20)14
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)]
Katz HB No. 380
Abstract: Increases the number of members on the Public Service Commission from five
to seven and provides for the legislature to divide the state into seven single-member
districts prior to the beginning of qualifying for the regular statewide elections to be
held in 2012 and to take other action as necessary to effectuate the increase.
Present constitution provides for five members on the Public Service Commission (PSC)
who are elected for overlapping terms of six years at the time fixed for congressional
elections from single-member districts established by law.
Proposed constitutional amendment provides for seven members on the PSC and otherwise
retains the present constitution. Proposed constitutional amendment requires the legislature
at a regular or an extraordinary session prior to the beginning of qualifying as provided by
law for the regular congressional elections to be held in 2012, to divide the state into seven
single-member districts for the purpose of electing members to the PSC, to provide for the
additional members of the commission to be elected during the regular congressional
elections held in 2012, and to provide for any other matters necessary to provide for the
orderly transition to the increased membership of the PSC.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held Oct. 22, 2011. HLS 11RS-6 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 380
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Provides that, if approved, the proposed amendment requiring the legislature to provide for
the districts, for the election of the additional members, and other matters necessary to
provide for the orderly transition shall become effective 20 days after the governor proclaims
its adoption as provided by present constitution, and the proposed amendment increasing the
number of members on the PSC becomes effective for election purposes only at the
beginning of qualifying as provided by law for the regular statewide elections to be held in
2012 and for all purposes on Jan. 1, 2013.
(Amends Const. Art. IV, §21(A)(1) and Art. XIV, §20)