Louisiana 2015 2015 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HB327 Comm Sub / Analysis

                    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 327 Engrossed	2015 Regular Session	Dove
Abstract: Changes membership of the North Lafourche Conservation, Levee and Drainage District
to reflect increased number of legislators elected from within the district, removes obsolete
date references, removes that members shall be from specific areas of the district, and defines
"quorum".
Present law provides that the governor shall appoint, subject to Senate confirmation, nine persons
from Lafourche Parish to serve as commissioners of the North Lafourche Conservation, Levee and
Drainage District.
Present law provides that the governor shall select these nine persons to serve as commissioners from
names submitted by the following:
(1)Each of the six state legislators representing any part of the district shall submit nominations,
and the governor shall appoint one member from each such list of nominees.
(2)One member from three names submitted by the president of Lafourche Parish, subject to
ratification by the governing authority of Lafourche Parish.
(3)One member from three names submitted by the mayor of Thibodeaux, subject to ratification
by the governing authority of Thibodeaux.
(4)One member from three names submitted by the mayor of Lockport, subject to ratification
by the governing authority of Lockport.
Proposed law retains present law, but removes references to the total number of commissioners
(nine) and the number (six) of state legislators representing the district.  This change would allow
for the current eight state legislators representing the district to submit nominations to the governor. 
In addition, this would allow for the total number of commissioners to change, without legislation,
due to any changes made due to future redistricting legislation.
Present law provides that the term of any commissioner shall cease in January 2008, or thereafter,
when his successor is appointed and takes office.
Proposed law provides that the term of any commissioner shall cease when his successor is
appointed and takes office. Present law requires that the membership of the board of commissioners of the North Lafourche
Conservation, Levee and Drainage District shall be comprised of no fewer than three members from
the area within the district lying to the east of Bayou Lafourche, no fewer than three members from
the area within the district lying to the west of Bayou Lafourche, and the remaining members from
the district-at-large, all appointed pursuant to the list of nominations submitted to the governor by
the nominating parties.
Proposed law removes present law.
Present law provides that if nine commissioners are not appointed within 60 days of the beginning
of the term or a vacancy, another list of nominations selected by a majority of the members of the
legislature representing the district shall be submitted, from which the governor shall appoint the
remaining required commissioners to bring the total number to nine.
Proposed law replaces reference to "nine" commissioners with the word "all".  This change would
allow for the current eight state legislators representing the district to submit nominations to the
governor.  In addition, this would allow for the total number of commissioners to change, without
legislation, due to any changes made due to future redistricting legislation.
Proposed law provides that, excluding any vacancies on the board, a majority of the appointed
commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the commission.
Proposed law removes references to obsolete dates.
Proposed law shall be effective Jan. 10, 2016 (the date the next governor is scheduled to take office).
(Amends R.S. 38:291(T)(2)(a)(intro. para.) and (i), (b) and (c), and (4); Adds R.S. 38:291(T)(2)(d))