SLS 11RS-370 ORIGINAL Page 1 of 3 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. Regular Session, 2011 SENATE BILL NO. 252 BY SENATOR ERDEY SPECIAL DISTRICTS. Authorizes the Livingston Parish Gravity Drainage District to levy their own 1/2 cent sales tax. (8/15/11) AN ACT1 To enact R.S. 38:1805.1, relative to gravity drainage districts; to authorize the Livingston2 Parish Gravity Drainage District No. 6 to levy a sales and use tax; to require voter3 approval of such tax; to provide for the purposes of such tax; to authorize the4 issuance of bonds; and to provide for related matters.5 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published.6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7 Section 1. R.S. 38:1805.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 8 §1805.1. Livingston Parish Gravity Drainage District No. 6; levy of sales and9 use tax; bonds10 A. Subject to the approval of a majority of the electors within the11 Livingston Parish Gravity Drainage District No. 6 at a special election called for12 the purpose, the police jury of Livingston Parish as the governing authority of13 the district is hereby authorized to levy a sales and use tax not exceeding one-14 half of one percent within the district. The tax shall be imposed by ordinance15 of the police jury and shall be levied upon the sale at retail, the use, the lease or16 rental, the consumption, the distribution and storage for use or consumption,17 SB NO. 252 SLS 11RS-370 ORIGINAL Page 2 of 3 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. of tangible personal property, and upon the sales of services within the district,1 all as presently or hereafter defined in R.S. 47:301 through 317. This tax shall2 be in addition to all other taxes currently levied in Livingston Parish, and except3 where inapplicable, the procedure established by R.S. 47:301 through 317 shall4 be followed in the imposition, collection, and enforcement of the tax.5 Procedural details necessary to supplement the provisions of those sections and6 to make said provisions applicable to the tax herein authorized shall be fixed in7 the ordinance of the police jury imposing the tax.8 B. Before any tax is levied under the provisions of this Section, there9 shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the area within the district at a10 special election called for that purpose a proposition to authorize the imposition11 of the sales and use tax including the purpose, rate, and duration of the tax at12 an election to be conducted in accordance with the general election laws of the13 state of Louisiana, and a majority of those voting in the election shall have voted14 in favor of the proposition. In addition, the proposition may also include15 provisions authorizing the funding of the sales and use tax into negotiable bonds16 or certificates of indebtedness payable solely from an irrevocable pledge and17 dedication of all or a portion of the proceeds of the tax subject to the prior18 payment of the costs and expenses of administration and collection of the tax.19 C. The proceeds of the tax authorized by and levied in accordance with20 the provisions of this Section shall be used exclusively to acquire drainage21 works; rights of way for canals and ditches; flood prevention works; equipment22 and facilities necessary to construct, maintain, and operate outlets for the23 waters of the district; and to prevent flooding. 24 The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by James Benton. DIGEST Present law provides that gravity drainage districts may levy special taxes on all the property within such district for the purpose of maintaining, operating, constructing, and improving the drainage works in such district in the manner authorized by present law, after having been authorized to do so at a special election held in accordance with the provisions of SB NO. 252 SLS 11RS-370 ORIGINAL Page 3 of 3 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. present law. Proposed law retains present law and authorizes the Livingston Parish Gravity Drainage District No. 6 to levy a sales and use tax not exceeding ½ of 1% within the district. Proposed law provides that such tax shall be imposed by ordinance of the police jury and shall be levied upon the sale at retail, the use, the lease or rental, the consumption, the distribution and storage for use or consumption, of tangible personal property, and upon the sales of services within the district, all as defined in present law. Proposed law provides that such tax shall be in addition to all other taxes currently levied in Livingston Parish. Proposed law provides that the proceeds of such tax will be used exclusively to acquire drainage works; rights of way for canals and ditches; flood prevention works; equipment and facilities necessary to construct, maintain, and operate outlets for the waters of the district; and to prevent flooding. Effective August 15, 2011. (Adds R.S. 38:1805.1)