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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 784
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILLMOTT
CULTURE/REC/TOUR: Removes provisions relative to the exhibit of a specific ship by
the Kenner Naval Museum
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 25:1005, 1005.2, and 1005.3(A), relative to the Kenner Naval2
Museum Commission; to remove provisions relative to acquisition and exhibit of a3
specific ship by the museum; and to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 25:1005, 1005.2, and 1005.3(A) are hereby amended and reenacted6
to read as follows:7
§1005. Legislative intent8
The legislature hereby recognizes that it is appropriate to establish a naval9
museum on the Mississippi River at Kenner and that including a naval vessel of10
historic significance as part of such museum will be a significant factor in its11
effectiveness. The legislature finds that such a museum would be an excellent12
educational and historical facility for Louisianians, especially school children, and13
would also be a distinctive attraction to visitors to Louisiana and that the location of14
such a facility at Kenner would complement and be complemented by the many15
museums and other visitor attractions located there. The legislature recognizes that16
the museum would also pay fitting tribute to those citizens of Louisiana who17
participated in the naval engagements of our past wars. The legislature therefore18
further recognizes the desirability of including as part of the museum the U.S.S.19 HLS 14RS-1452 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 784
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Cabot-Dedalo, formerly an aircraft carrier of the United States Navy which was1
involved in virtually the entire Pacific campaign in World War II and which later2
was the flagship of the Spanish Navy.3
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§1005.2. Duties5
A. The commission shall have authority to acquire, lease, transport, berth,6
renovate, equip, operate, and maintain, and to exhibit the aircraft carrier U.S.S.7
Cabot-Dedalo or, if acquisition thereof becomes impossible or impractical, then any8
other property acquired for use as a permanent naval museum, and to adopt rules and9
regulations for the use of such museum and its properties.10
B. The commission may have control over the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Cabot-11
Dedalo or other any naval museum vessel it acquires, and shall have control over any12
improvements and exhibits located thereon and any additions constructed, created,13
leased, acquired, or erected in connection therewith.14
C. The commission shall select a site for permanently docking the U.S.S.15
Cabot-Dedalo or other any naval museum vessel it acquires at Kenner and make all16
necessary arrangements for leasing or acquiring a location for its exhibition.17
D. The commission shall be responsible for all distribution and collection of18
funds connected with this project. It is also authorized to contract for, receive,19
accept, and expend any funds made available from public or private sources. No20
employees of the commission shall be deemed to be employees of the state or be21
entitled to join the state retirement system.22
E. The commission is authorized and empowered to contract for professional23
management of all or part of the operations of the U.S.S. Cabot-Dedalo, or other any24
naval vessels it acquires and related facilities.25
F. The commission shall have the authority to contract with the U.S.O., U.S.26
Navy and any other branch of the U.S. Armed Services, other naval and military27
museums, military and quasi-military organizations, corporations, individuals, and28
other legal entities for the purpose of soliciting and acquiring exhibits, equipment,29 HLS 14RS-1452 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 784
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additional improvements, films, videos, photographs, and memorabilia for public1
display, as well as donations for the acquisition of such items, and for events on the2
U.S.S. Cabot-Dedalo, or other any naval vessel it acquires.3
§1005.3. Authority to acquire, lease, construct, and finance certain facilities and4
improvements5
A. The Kenner Naval Museum Commission, in addition to those duties6
specified in R.S. 25:1005.2, shall have the authority to acquire, lease, construct, and7
finance a landing facility for commercial excursion boats, an observation area, a8
platform for tourist related recreational projects, and other related improvements to9
the U.S.S. Cabot-Dedalo and its related museum any naval vessel it acquires, as10
needed public facilities and improvements, and as a means of enhancing the revenue-11
producing potential of such facilities. In the exercise of this authority, the12
commission is further authorized and empowered to enter into and execute an13
agreement or agreements with the U.S.S. Cabot-Dedalo Foundation, the city of14
Kenner, the parish of Jefferson, or all of them, hereinafter referred to as the15
"foundation", the "city", and the "parish", and such entities are likewise authorized16
to enter into such agreements for participation by the foundation, the city, and the17
parish in the acquisition, construction, and financing of such facilities and18
improvements.19
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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)]
Willmott HB No. 784
Abstract: Removes provisions relative to the exhibit of the U.S.S. Cabot-Dedalo by the
Kenner Naval Museum.
Present law provides with respect to the Kenner Naval Museum and the Kenner Naval
Museum Commission. Also provides with respect to certain duties of the commission as
well as its authority to acquire, lease, construct, and finance certain facilities and
improvements. HLS 14RS-1452 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 784
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are additions.
Present law provides that part of the museum is the U.S.S. Cabot-Dedalo. Further provides
that the duties of the commission include the management and maintenance of the U.S.S.
Cabot-Dedalo. Also provides that the commission has the authority to acquire, lease,
construct, and finance certain facilities and improvements with respect to the U.S.S. Cabot-
Dedalo. Proposed law removes references to the U.S.S. Cabot-Dedalo but retains present
law applicable to any naval vessel the commission acquires.
(Amends R.S. 25:1005, 1005.2, and 1005.3(A))