Brown (HB 577) Act No. 626
Existing 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.
Existing 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.
Existing 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 is formed. Provides that the
provisions of existing 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.
New law authorizes the Waterworks District No. 3 of Rapides Parish to acquire, by donation,
one 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. 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.
New law prohibits the district from acquiring any water system pursuant to new law until the
governing authorities of the district and Grant Parish enter into an inter-governmental
agreement that provides for the operation and maintenance of the system, including any
expansion of the system's water lines, and requires the district to provide water services to
the residents of Grant Parish.
New law provides that new law shall not be construed as to void the provisions of any inter-
governmental agreement between the parishes of Grant and Rapides in effect prior to August
1, 2014 and authorizes the district to continue to supply water services to the residents of
both parishes pursuant to any inter-governmental agreement between the district and the
parishes of Grant and Rapides in effect prior to August 1, 2014.
Effective Aug. 1, 2014.
(Adds R.S. 33:3815.5)