Abramson (HB 684) Act No. 338
New law makes requirements for additional notice of certain meetings of political
subdivisions and for recording or broadcast of board or commission meetings inapplicable
to certain crime prevention and security districts, improvement districts, and other similar
districts as follows:
Existing law (R.S. 42:11 et seq.) establishes the "Open Meetings Law" governing public
bodies in La. Existing 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.
Existing 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 60 days
nor less than 30 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.
Existing law (R.S. 42:23(A)) 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.
Existing 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 parish governing authority, but at least one of the districts levies its own parcel fee
directly.
New law provides that existing law (R.S. 42:19.1 and 23(A)) 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 parish or municipal governing authority.
Effective Aug. 1, 2014.
(Adds R.S. 33:9099.2)