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)]
Abramson HB No. 684
Abstract: Provides that requirements for additional notice of certain meetings of a political
subdivision and for recording or broadcast of board or commission meetings shall not
apply to certain crime prevention and security districts, improvement districts, and other
similar districts.
Present law (R.S. 42:11 et seq.) establishes the "Open Meetings Law" governing public bodies in
Louisiana. Present law (R.S. 42:19) provides that all public bodies, except the legislature and its
committees and subcommittees, shall give written public notice of any regular, special, or
rescheduled meeting no later than 24 hours before the meeting. Such notice must include the
agenda, date, time, and place of the meeting and may not be changed less than 24 hours prior to
the meeting.
Present law (R.S. 42:19.1) requires additional public notice of a meeting at which a political
subdivision intends to levy, increase, renew, or continue any ad valorem property tax or sales and
use tax or authorize the calling of an election for submitting such a question to the voters to be
both published in the official journal of the political subdivision no more than sixty days nor less
than thirty days before such public meeting and announced to the public during the course of a
public meeting of such political subdivision no more than 60 days nor less than 30 days before
such public meeting.
Present law (R.S. 42:23(A)) further requires a nonelected board or commission that has the
authority to levy a tax to video or audio record, film, or broadcast live all proceedings in a public
meeting.
Present law (Chapter 29 of Title 33 of the La. Revised Statutes of 1950 "Neighborhood
Improvement Districts") creates or authorizes creation of various districts in particular
neighborhoods or subdivisions. Part I concerns districts in Jefferson Parish with purposes related
to security as well as other improvements. The parish governing authority is the district
governing authority. These districts have authority to levy specified taxes and/or parcel fees and
these are levied by the governing authority of the district (which is the parish governing
authority). Part II concerns Orleans Parish. It provides for improvement districts for which
parcel fees and in some cases ad valorem taxes are levied by the city council of New Orleans. It
also provides for development districts which do not have authority for a tax or fee. Part II also
provides for crime prevention and security districts in Orleans Parish, which generally are funded
by parcel fees levied by the New Orleans City Council. Part III concerns East Baton Rouge
Parish. Most of these districts are funded by a parcel fee levied by the governing authority of the parish, but at least one of the districts levies its own parcel fee directly.
Proposed law provides that present law (R.S. 42:19.1 and 23(A)) relative to additional notice of
certain meetings and recording or broadcast of meetings shall not apply to meetings of the
governing authority of a crime prevention and security district, improvement district, or other
district created by or pursuant to Chapter 29 of Title 33 of the La. Revised Statutes of 1950 for
which a tax or parcel fee is levied by the governing authority of a parish or municipality.
(Adds R.S. 33:9099.2) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs
to the original bill.
1. Removes language specifying that the tax or parcel fee is not levied by the governing
authority of the district.
2. Removes language explaining the provisions of present law that will not apply to
crime prevention and security districts, improvement districts, or other districts.