ENROLLED
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 784
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILLMOTT
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
Cabot-Dedalo, formerly an aircraft carrier of the United States Navy which was20
involved in virtually the entire Pacific campaign in World War II and which later21
was the flagship of the Spanish Navy.22
* * *23 ENROLLEDHB NO. 784
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§1005.2. Duties1
A. The commission shall have authority to acquire, lease, transport, berth,2
renovate, equip, operate, and maintain, and to exhibit the aircraft carrier U.S.S.3
Cabot-Dedalo or, if acquisition thereof becomes impossible or impractical, then any4
other property acquired for use as a permanent naval museum, and to adopt rules and5
regulations for the use of such museum and its properties.6
B. The commission may have control over the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Cabot-7
Dedalo or other any naval museum vessel it acquires, and shall have control over any8
improvements and exhibits located thereon and any additions constructed, created,9
leased, acquired, or erected in connection therewith.10
C. The commission shall select a site for permanently docking the U.S.S.11
Cabot-Dedalo or other any naval museum vessel it acquires at Kenner and make all12
necessary arrangements for leasing or acquiring a location for its exhibition.13
D. The commission shall be responsible for all distribution and collection of14
funds connected with this project. It is also authorized to contract for, receive,15
accept, and expend any funds made available from public or private sources. No16
employees of the commission shall be deemed to be employees of the state or be17
entitled to join the state retirement system.18
E. The commission is authorized and empowered to contract for professional19
management of all or part of the operations of the U.S.S. Cabot-Dedalo, or other any20
naval vessels it acquires and related facilities.21
F. The commission shall have the authority to contract with the U.S.O., U.S.22
Navy and any other branch of the U.S. Armed Services, other naval and military23
museums, military and quasi-military organizations, corporations, individuals, and24
other legal entities for the purpose of soliciting and acquiring exhibits, equipment,25
additional improvements, films, videos, photographs, and memorabilia for public26
display, as well as donations for the acquisition of such items, and for events on the27
U.S.S. Cabot-Dedalo, or other any naval vessel it acquires.28 ENROLLEDHB NO. 784
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§1005.3. Authority to acquire, lease, construct, and finance certain facilities and1
improvements2
A. The Kenner Naval Museum Commission, in addition to those duties3
specified in R.S. 25:1005.2, shall have the authority to acquire, lease, construct, and4
finance a landing facility for commercial excursion boats, an observation area, a5
platform for tourist related recreational projects, and other related improvements to6
the U.S.S. Cabot-Dedalo and its related museum any naval vessel it acquires, as7
needed public facilities and improvements, and as a means of enhancing the revenue-8
producing potential of such facilities. In the exercise of this authority, the9
commission is further authorized and empowered to enter into and execute an10
agreement or agreements with the U.S.S. Cabot-Dedalo Foundation, the city of11
Kenner, the parish of Jefferson, or all both of them, hereinafter referred to as the12
"foundation", the "city", and the "parish", and such entities are likewise authorized13
to enter into such agreements for participation by the foundation, the city, and the14
parish in the acquisition, construction, and financing of such facilities and15
improvements.16
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SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: