HLS 14RS-531 REENGROSSED
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 577
BY REPRESENTATIVE BROWN
DISTRICTS/WATERWORKS: Authorizes Waterworks District No. 3 of Rapides Parish
to acquire a privately owned water system located in Grant Parish
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 33:3815.5, relative to the parishes of Grant and Rapides; to provide relative2
to Waterworks District No. 3 of Rapides Parish; to provide relative to water services3
supplied by the district to the residents of the parishes of Grant and Rapides; to4
authorize the district to acquire a privately owned water system located in Grant5
Parish for the purpose of supplying such services; to require the approval of the6
governing authority of Grant Parish prior to the district supplying water services7
from the system to the residents of Grant Parish and prior to any expansion of the8
acquired water district located in Grant Parish by a water district located in another9
parish; to provide relative to existing franchise agreements between the parishes of10
Grant and Rapides; and to provide for related matters.11
Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published12
as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of13
Louisiana.14
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:15
Section 1. R.S. 33:3815.5 is hereby enacted to read as follows:16
ยง3815.5. Waterworks District No. 3 of Rapides Parish; authority to acquire privately17
owned system in Grant Parish18
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, Waterworks19
District No. 3 of Rapides Parish may acquire, by donation, one privately owned20
water system located in Grant Parish for the purpose of supplying water services to21 HLS 14RS-531 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 577
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the residents of the parishes of Grant and Rapides. The district may acquire all1
property or facilities owned by any such system and may acquire all machinery2
deemed necessary by the district to maintain and operate the system. The district3
shall own in full ownership all property or facilities acquired pursuant to the4
provisions of this Subsection, and all such property or facilities shall be considered5
publicly owned by the district.6
B. The district shall not supply any water service to the residents of Grant7
Parish from any water system acquired pursuant to the provisions of Subsection A8
of this Section or expand the acquired water district located in Grant Parish by a9
water district located in another parish until the governing authority of Grant Parish10
adopts a resolution authorizing the district to supply such services. The district shall11
supply water services to the residents of Grant Parish pursuant to the terms and12
conditions set forth in an agreement between the district and the parish.13
C. The provisions of this Section shall not be construed as to void the14
provisions of any franchise agreement between the parishes of Grant and Rapides in15
effect prior to the effective date of this Section, and the district may continue to16
supply water services to the residents of the parishes of Grant and Rapides pursuant17
to any franchise agreement in effect prior to the effective date of this Section for as18
long as the agreement remains in effect.19
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)]
Brown HB No. 577
Abstract: Relative to Waterworks District No. 3 of Rapides Parish, authorizes the district
to acquire a privately owned water system located in Grant Parish for the purpose of
supplying water services to the residents of the parishes of Grant and Rapides.
Present law authorizes parishes to create waterworks districts to oversee the installation,
operation, and maintenance of waterworks systems. Provides that each waterworks district
is governed by a board of five commissioners, with certain exceptions.
Proposed law retains present law. HLS 14RS-531 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 577
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Present law provides for the powers and duties of the waterworks districts, including the
authority to expropriate property for any purpose that it may find necessary in the operation
of its waterworks system, and the authority to acquire by donation or purchase any existing
waterworks system in the district. Authorizes the districts to acquire all machinery
necessary for the purpose of affecting the object for which it is formed. Authorizes the
districts to cooperate with other districts within their respective parishes and with private
individuals, associations, corporations, or municipalities.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law relative to waterworks districts that own property in an adjoining parish,
authorizes the districts to expropriate property within their respective districts and to acquire
by donation, purchase, exchange, lease, or otherwise, any property or facilities located at any
location which affects the object for which the district was formed. Provides that the
provisions of present law shall not be construed so as to restrict a waterworks district in one
parish from supplying water services to other waterworks districts or fire districts in an
adjoining parish, when permission has been granted by the governing authority of the
adjoining parish pursuant to a resolution or franchise agreement. Provides exceptions.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally authorizes the Waterworks District No.
3 of Rapides Parish to acquire, by donation, one privately owned water system located in the
Grant Parish for the purpose of supplying water services to the residents of the parishes of
Grant and Rapides. Authorizes the district to acquire all property or facilities owned by the
system and to acquire all machinery deemed necessary by the district to maintain and operate
the system. Provides that all properties and facilities acquired are considered publicly owned
by the district.
Proposed law requires the approval of the governing authority of Grant Parish prior to the
district supplying water services from the system acquired pursuant to proposed law to the
residents of Grant Parish or expanding the acquired water district. Requires the district to
supply water services pursuant to the terms and conditions of an agreement between the
district and Grant Parish.
Proposed law provides that proposed law shall not be construed as to void the provisions of
any franchise agreement between the parishes of Grant and Rapides in effect prior to
proposed law and authorizes the district to continue to supply water services to the residents
of both parishes pursuant to any franchise agreement in effect prior to proposed law.
(Adds R.S. 33:3815.5)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill.
1. Added a provision that prohibits the district from expanding the acquired water
district without approval of the governing authority of Grant Parish.