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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE BILL NO. 237
BY SENATOR PETERSON
SPECIAL DISTRICTS. Provides for legislation relative to the BioDistrict New Orleans'
board general powers. (8/1/13)
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 33:9039.68(B), relative to the general powers of the BioDistrict2
New Orleans' board; to provide a method by which the board may reduce or exclude3
lands from its original district; to authorize the creation of economic development4
projects within the original boundaries of the downtown development district and the5
BioDistrict New Orleans; and to provide for related matters.6
Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. R.S. 33:9039.68(B) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:9
ยง9039.68. General powers10
* * *11
B.(1) At least ten days after publication of a notice in the official journal of12
the district, a public hearing shall be conducted, and the board may then designate13
one or more areas within or without the boundaries of the district as they may exist14
from time to time as a separate subdistrict or as an enlargement, or reduction of the15
original district, provided that subdistricts created by the board outside the then16
current boundaries of the district need not be contiguous to the district. Any territory17 SB NO. 237
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
outside the original boundaries of the district which is sought to be included or1
excluded in the district or designated as a separate subdistrict may only be so2
included, excluded, or designated subject to the approval of the governing board of3
the parish or municipality having jurisdiction over such territory. Each subdistrict4
shall constitute a separate political subdivision of the state, governed by the district5
board with the same powers of the district. Each designated subdistrict area shall be6
representative of its geographic location and designated as "BioDistrict Economic7
Development Subdistrict for ________________".8
(2)(a) In addition to any other provision of this Chapter, the owner or owners9
of land whether or not contiguous to the district may file with the board a petition10
requesting that there their property be included as an enlargement of the original11
district, excluded from the original district, or designated as a separate subdistrict,.12
the The land to be included or excluded in the district may be described in the13
petition by metes and bounds or by lot and block number if there is a recorded plat14
of the area. to be included in the district. The board shall hear and consider the15
petition and may add or reduce the land described to the original district or16
designated as a subdistrict in the petition if it is feasible, practicable, and to the17
advantage of the district. Upon receipt of such petition and at least ten days after18
publication of a notice in the official journal of the district, a public hearing shall be19
conducted, and the board shall consider the petition and may then enlarge or reduce20
the boundaries of the district or designate one or more areas within or without the21
boundaries of the district as they may exist from time to time as a subdistrict if it is22
practicable, feasible, and to the benefit of the district to do so. development of the23
bioscience healthcare industries.24
(b) Subdistricts created outside the then current boundaries of the district25
also need not be contiguous to the district. Any territory outside the district which26
is sought to be included or excluded in the district or designated as a subdistrict,27
may only be so included subject to the approval of the governing board of the parish28
or municipality having jurisdiction over such territory. Each subdistrict shall29 SB NO. 237
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
constitute a separate political subdivision of the state, governed by the district board1
with the same powers of the district. Each designated subdistrict area shall be2
representative of its geographic location and designated as " BioDistrict Economic3
Development Subdistrict for ________________".4
(3) The territorial jurisdiction or boundaries of the district shall not be5
expanded, reduced, or extended and no subdistrict shall be created to include any6
area which is not entirely contained within the New Orleans Metropolitan Statistical7
Area.8
Section 2. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Act to the contrary, the New9
Orleans Downtown Development District and BioDistrict New Orleans may exercise10
all of their authority within their boundaries regardless of any overlapping11
jurisdiction and may further undertake economic development projects within the12
original boundaries of the downtown development district and the BioDistrict New13
Orleans.14
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Ann S. Brown.
DIGEST
Peterson (SB 237)
Present law authorizes the board to include or designate as a separate subdistrict certain
properties of the BioDistrict in New Orleans.
Proposed law retains present law and further authorizes the board to exclude or reduce
certain properties of the district.
Proposed law authorizes the creation of economic development projects within the original
boundaries of the downtown development district and the BioDistrict in New Orleans.
Effective August 1, 2013.
(Amends R.S. 33:9039.68(B))