Provides for the districts for the election of members to the House of Representatives
Impact
The bill aims to amend existing laws to reflect new population data by redrawing the boundaries of each legislative district. According to the proposal, the new district configurations will come into effect for the 2011 elections, but existing districts will remain in effect until January 9, 2012, for all other purposes. The bill includes provisions that specify the precincts referenced are those identified in the 2010 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line Shapefiles. It asserts that the boundaries will remain unchanged despite any future changes made by local government entities, aiming to create stability in representation and electoral processes.
Summary
House Bill 433 provides for the redistricting of the House of Representatives in Louisiana, establishing new district boundaries for each of the 105 representative districts. This bill is designed to ensure that representation in the legislature aligns with the distribution of the state's population as determined by the latest census data, which in this case originates from the 2010 Census. The bill explicitly repeals the previous law governing district allocation and outlines the standards for the new districts, ensuring compliance with state constitutional mandates regarding equal representation based on population data.
Contention
Points of contention regarding HB 433 could arise from concerns about how the new district boundaries might affect local political power. Stakeholders might argue that the redistricting process could favor certain political parties or undermine community representation by altering established district lines. Additionally, local governing authorities may be concerned about the implications of the law's mandate to keep district boundaries static despite possible demographic shifts or changes in local governance. Debates may center around whether this static nature serves the public interest effectively, considering that community needs can evolve over time.