Louisiana 2012 2012 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HB905 Introduced / Bill

                    HLS 12RS-670	ORIGINAL
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are additions.
Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE BILL NO. 905
BY REPRESENTATIVE EDWARDS
DISTRICTS/SPECIAL:  Creates the St. Helena Parish Elderly Services District
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 33:2740.20, relative to St. Helena Parish; to create the St. Helena Parish2
Elderly Services District; to provide for the governance, boundaries, and powers and3
duties of the district; to authorize the district to levy ad valorem and sales taxes,4
subject to voter approval; and to provide for related matters.5
Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published6
as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of7
Louisiana.8
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:9
Section 1. R.S. 33:2740.20 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 10
ยง2740.20.  St. Helena Parish Elderly Services District11
A. Creation. The St. Helena Parish Elderly Services District, referred to in12
this Section as the "district", is hereby created as a special taxing district in St.13
Helena Parish. The district shall be a political subdivision of the state as defined in14
the Constitution of Louisiana.15
B. Boundaries.  The boundaries of the district shall be coterminous with the16
boundaries of St. Helena Parish.17
C. Purpose.  The district is established for the purpose of providing services18
to the elderly residents of St. Helena Parish.19 HLS 12RS-670	ORIGINAL
HB NO. 905
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D. Governance. (1) The district shall be governed by a board of1
commissioners, referred to in this Section as the "board", consisting of members as2
follows:3
(a) Each member of  the Louisiana House of Representatives representing4
the area contained in the district shall appoint one member.5
(b) Each member of the Louisiana Senate representing the area contained in6
the district shall appoint one member.7
(c) The president of the governing authority of St. Helena Parish shall appoint8
one member. 9
(d) The board of directors of the St. Helena Council on Aging, Inc. shall10
appoint one member.11
(2) Board members shall serve three-year terms after serving initial terms as12
follows: two members shall serve an initial term of three years, two shall serve two13
years, and one shall serve one year as determined by lot at the first meeting of the14
board.15
(3) Vacancies resulting from the expiration of a term or for any other reason16
shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment.17
(4) The members of the board shall select from among themselves a18
president and such other officers as they deem appropriate. The responsibilities of19
the officers shall be as provided by the bylaws of the board.20
(5) Members of the board shall serve without compensation.21
E. Powers and duties.  The district, acting through its board, shall have the22
following powers and duties:23
(1)  To sue and be sued.24
(2)  To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.25
(3)  To receive and expend funds collected pursuant to Subsection F of this26
Section.27 HLS 12RS-670	ORIGINAL
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(4) To enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement, pursuant to Article VI,1
Section 14(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana, with the St. Helena Council on2
Aging, Inc. in order to carry out the purpose of the district.3
(5)  To purchase items and supplies which the board deems instrumental to4
achieving the purpose of the district.5
(6) To perform or have performed any other function or activity necessary6
for the achievement of the purpose of the district.7
F.  Funding. (1)  The board may levy annually and cause to be collected an8
ad valorem tax, provided that the amount, term, and purpose of such tax, as set out9
in a proposition submitted to a vote in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code,10
is approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the district voting on the11
proposition in an election held for that purpose.12
(2)(a) The board may levy and collect a sales and use tax within the13
boundaries of the district, not exceeding one percent, which tax may exceed the14
limitation set forth in Article VI, Section 29(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana,15
provided that the amount, term, and purpose of said tax, as set out in a proposition16
submitted to a vote in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code, is approved by17
a majority of the qualified electors of the district voting on the proposition in an18
election held for that purpose.19
(b) The tax shall be levied upon the use, lease, rental, consumption,20
distribution, storage, or sale at retail of tangible personal property, and upon the sales21
of services within the district, all as defined in Chapter 2 of Subtitle II of Title 47 of22
the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.23
(c) The tax shall be imposed, collected, and enforced subject to the terms of24
the resolution imposing the tax and the provisions of Chapter 2 of Subtitle II of Title25
47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. 26
(d) The tax shall be imposed and collected uniformly throughout the district.27 HLS 12RS-670	ORIGINAL
HB NO. 905
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are additions.
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)]
Edwards	HB No. 905
Abstract: Creates the St. Helena Parish Elderly Services District and authorizes the district
to levy ad valorem and sales taxes subject to voter approval.
Proposed law creates the St. Helena Parish Elderly Services District as a special taxing
district in St. Helena Parish and a political subdivision of the state to provide services to the
elderly residents of the parish. District boundaries shall be coterminous with parish
boundaries.
Provides for district governance by a board of commissioners, consisting of five members
as follows:
(1)  Each member of the La. House of Representatives representing the area contained
in the district shall appoint one member.
(2) Each member of the La. Senate representing the area contained in the district shall
appoint one member.
(3) The president of the parish governing authority shall appoint one member. 
(4) The board of directors of the St. Helena Council on Aging, Inc. shall appoint one
member.
Provides for staggered terms and that members shall serve without compensation. Grants to
the district, acting through its board, the following powers and duties:
(1)  To sue and be sued.
(2)  To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.
(3)  To receive and expend funds collected pursuant to proposed law.
(4) To enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement, pursuant to present constitution,
with the St. Helena Council on Aging, Inc., to carry out the district's purpose.
(5)  To purchase items and supplies instrumental to achieving the district's purpose.
(6)  To perform or have performed any other function or activity necessary for the
achievement of district's purchase.
With respect to funding, proposed law authorizes the board to do the following, subject to
voter approval:
(1) Levy annually and cause to be collected an ad valorem tax.
(2)Levy and collect a sales and use tax within the boundaries of the district, not
exceeding one percent.  
(Adds R.S. 33:2740.20)