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)]
St. Germain HB No. 793
Abstract: Provides for the membership of the board of commissioners of the Capital Area
Groundwater Commission.
Present law provides that the board of commissioners of the Capital Area Groundwater
Commission shall consist of 15 members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the
Senate.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides one member shall be appointed from each parish in the district as
nominated by the parish governing authorities. The parishes in the district are East Baton Rouge,
East Feliciana, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rogue, and West Feliciana. Proposed law retains
present law.
Present law provides three members shall be appointed from nominations by industrial users in
the district. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides three members shall be appointed from nominations by privately or publicly
owned entities furnishing water for rural or municipal use within the district, with one of the
three always being appointed from nominations by privately owned users furnishing a municipal
water supply. Proposed law reduces the members to two while retaining that one member shall
be appointed from nominations by a private owner furnishing municipal supply.
Proposed law adds the director of the Dept. of Public Works of the city of Baton Rouge, or his
designee, as a member.
Present law provides that one member shall be the assistant secretary of the Dept. of Natural
Resources or his designee who shall be a member of his staff. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides the one member shall be appointed from nominations by the La. Farm
Bureau Federation and the La. Cattlemen's Association. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that one member shall be the executive secretary of the La. Stream Control
Commission or a member of his staff. Proposed law provides that one member shall be the
secretary of the Dept. of Environmental Quality or his designee who shall be a member of his
staff. Present law provides that one member shall be appointed from nomination by the members of the
board. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides for a time line for the appointment of the initial members after the effective
date of present law. Proposed law removes time lines for the initial appointment.
Present law provides for staggered terms of the initial members. Proposed law retains present
law and provides that after the initial term all terms shall be three years, except the terms for
members representing governmental entities whose term shall be contemporaneous with their
office.
Present law provides that no member may serve more than two consecutive terms, except the
members representing the Dept. of Public Works and the La. Stream Control Commission.
Proposed law retains the two-term limit except for members representing governmental entities.
Present law provides terms begin for the initial appointees on the date of implementation of the
district and that subsequent terms begin on the anniversary date of the date of implementation.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides for a procedure to replace members by notifying the nominating entities 60
days prior to the expiration of a term.
Proposed law repeals present law and provides that vacancies shall be filled by appointment by
the governor in the manner that member was appointed in proposed law.
Present law requires that in any provision of law applicable to a groundwater conservation
district located in a parish with population, according to the most recent federal decennial census,
in excess of 400,000, the term "director of the Dept. of Public Works" means the director of the
municipal Dept. of Public Works for the municipality located in the district with the greatest
population.
Proposed law repeals present law and defines the Dept. of Public Works as the dept. of public
works of the city of Baton Rouge.
(Amends R.S. 38:3074(A), (B)(3), (4), and (5), (C), and (D)(intro. para.); Adds R.S.
38:3073(14); Repeals R.S. 38:3074(D)(1)-(9) and Act No. 177 of the 2013 R.S.)