HLS 15RS-130 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 23
BY REPRESENTATIVE HENSGENS
DISTRICTS/ECONOMIC DEVEL: Provides with respect to the Vermilion Parish
Economic Development District
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 33:130.561(A), 130.562(A) and (G), and 130.570, relative to the
3 Vermilion Parish Economic Development District; to provide relative to the
4 governing board of the district; to provide with respect to the membership on the
5 board; to provide relative to the dissolution of the district; to provide relative to the
6 name of the district; and to provide for related matters.
7 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
8 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
9 Louisiana.
10Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. R.S. 33:130.561(A), 130.562(A) and (G), and 130.570 are hereby
12amended and reenacted to read as follows:
13 §130.561. Vermilion Parish Economic Development District; creation; territorial
14 jurisdiction
15 A. The Vermilion Parish Economic Development District, hereinafter
16 referred to as the district, is hereby created and is declared to be a body politic and
17 political subdivision of the state of Louisiana, as defined in Article VI, Section 44
18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. Pursuant to Article VI, Sections 19 and 21 of the
19 Constitution of Louisiana, the district, acting through its board of commissioners, the
20 governing authority of said district, is hereby granted all of the rights, powers,
Page 1 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-130 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 23
1 privileges, and immunities granted to political subdivisions for industrial,
2 commercial, research, and economic development purposes, including but not
3 limited to the power of taxation, the power to incur debt and issue revenue and
4 general obligation bonds, certificates of indebtedness, bond and certificate
5 anticipation notes, and refunding bonds, subject to the limitations hereinafter
6 provided.
7 * * *
8 §130.562. Board of commissioners; members; officers; agents and employees;
9 quarterly report
10 A.(1) The district shall be governed by a board of commissioners consisting
11 of thirteen fifteen members appointed as follows:
12 (a) Nine Five members appointed by the Vermilion Parish Police Jury. Four
13 of the nine members appointed by the Vermilion Parish Police Jury shall be selected
14 from a list comprised of names submitted by the governing bodies of Abbeville,
15 Delcambre, Erath, Gueydan, Kaplan, and Maurice.
16 (b) One member appointed by the Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau. Sheriff.
17 (c) One member appointed by the Greater Abbeville-Vermilion Chamber of
18 Commerce.
19 (d) One member appointed by the Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission.
20 School Board.
21 (e) One member appointed by the Abbeville Harbor and Terminal District.
22 (f) Six members appointed by the governing authorities of Abbeville,
23 Delcambre, Erath, Gueydan, Kaplan, and Maurice. Each governing authority shall
24 appoint one member, and each such appointment is subject to approval of the
25 district's board of commissioners.
26 (2) Such appointments shall be of individuals with experience in any of the
27 various economic sectors of Vermilion Parish.
28 (3) The term of office for all members shall be four years.
Page 2 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-130 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 23
1 (4) The board shall be representative of the parish's population by race and
2 ethnicity to ensure diversity.
3 * * *
4 G. The board of commissioners shall meet in regular session once each
5 month and shall also meet in special session as often as the president of the board
6 convenes them or on the written request of six eight members. Six Eight members
7 of the board of commissioners shall constitute a quorum.
8 * * *
9 §130.570. Dissolution of the district
10 The Vermilion Parish Police Jury district's board of commissioners may
11 adopt a resolution by two-thirds vote calling for the dissolution of the district. Such
12 dissolution shall be effective no earlier than one year from the police jury's board's
13 vote.
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)]
HB 23 Original 2015 Regular Session Hensgens
Abstract: Provides with respect to the Vermilion Parish Economic Development District.
Present law provides for the creation of the Vermilion Parish Economic Development
District. Proposed law retains present law, but changes name of district to the Vermilion
Economic Development District.
Present law provides that the district shall be governed by a board of commissioners
consisting of 13 members. Proposed law provides that the board of commissioners consists
of 15 members. Proposed law makes changes to board membership as follows:
(1)Present law provides that the Vermilion Parish Police Jury appoints nine members,
four of whom are to be selected from a list of names submitted by the governing
authorities of Abbeville, Delcambre, Erath, Gueydan, Kaplan, and Maurice.
Proposed law provides instead that the police jury appoints five members. Provides
that the governing authorities of six municipalities each appoint a member, with such
appointments being subject to approval of the board of commissioners.
(2)Present law provides that one member is appointed by the Vermilion Parish Farm
Bureau. Proposed law provides instead for appointment of one member by the parish
sheriff.
Page 3 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-130 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 23
(3)Present law provides that one member is appointed by the Vermilion Parish Tourist
Commission. Proposed law provides instead for appointment of one member by the
parish school board.
Proposed law retains present law with respect to one appointment each by the Abbeville
Harbor and Terminal District and the Greater Abbeville-Vermilion Chamber of Commerce.
Proposed law adds provision requiring the board to be representative of the parish's
population by race and ethnicity to ensure diversity.
Present law authorizes the Vermilion Parish Police Jury to adopt a resolution by 2/3 vote
calling for the dissolution of the district, effective no earlier than one year from the vote.
Proposed law provides instead that the district may dissolve itself by the same vote and
subject to the same limitation on effectiveness.
(Amends R.S. 33:130.561(A), 130.562(A) and (G), and 130.570)
Page 4 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.