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 693 Original 2015 Regular Session Leger
Abstract: Creates the New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority Economic Growth and Development
District, with tax, bond, and tax increment financing authority, to provide for cooperative
economic and community development and to enhance the development and improvement
of property and expand promote economic growth, safety, and development.
Proposed law enacts the New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority Economic Growth and
Development District Act, including the following provisions:
(1)Creates the New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority Economic Growth and Development
District as a political subdivision with the following boundaries: the floodwall at Girod St.
to Market St., to Tchoupitoulas St., to Euterpe St., to Chippewa St. (extended), to Melpomne
St., to Annunciation St., to Thalia St., to St. Thomas St. (extended), to Calliope St.
riverbound, to Convention Center Blvd., to Girod Street, and to the floodwall. Grants the
district all the rights, powers, privileges, and immunities of a political subdivision, subject
to the limitations of proposed law.
(2)Provides that the district's purpose is to provide for cooperative economic and community
development among the district, the city, the state, and the owners of property in the district,
to enhance the development of and improvement to the property within the area of the
district, and to promote economic growth, safety, and development.
(3)Provides for governance and administration by the Board of Commissions of the New
Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority.
(4)Grants the district, through the board, certain powers to carry out its purposes, including the
power to:
(a)Sue and be sued.
(b)Adopt, use, and alter a corporate seal.
(c)Acquire property by gift, grant, purchase, or otherwise; to hold and use any franchise
or property, or any interest therein.
(d)Enter into contracts for the purchase, lease, acquisition, construction, and
improvement of works and facilities. Specifically exempts any lease or sublease from present law on the letting of public contracts which generally requires
advertisement and letting to lowest bidder.
(e)Mortgage its properties and enter into leases and other agreements.
(f)Require and issue licenses with respect to its properties and facilities.
(g)Regulate the imposition of fees and rentals charged by the district for its facilities and
services rendered by it.
(h)Appoint officers, agents, and employees, prescribe their duties, and fix their
compensation.
(i)Enter into cooperative endeavor agreements and to expend its funding within and
beyond its territorial boundaries to accomplish its purpose.
(5)Grants the district the powers of an economic development district as if the district were an
economic development district established pursuant to present law (Part II of Chapter 27 of
Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950), including powers of tax increment
financing as provided in present law (R.S. 33:9038.33 and 9038.34) and the power to levy
taxes within the district as provided in present law (R.S. 33:9038.39 which authorizes ad
valorem taxes, sales taxes, or hotel occupancy taxes within the district up to five mills of ad
valorem taxes, up to 2% of sales taxes, or up to 2% of hotel occupancy taxes, or any
combination of such taxes) all subject to present law (Part II of Chapter 27 of Title 33 of the
Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, which requires approval at an election unless there are
no voters in the district).
(6)Relative to tax levies by the district (or a subdistrict of the district), provides that:
(a)Sales taxes may exceed the constitutional limitation (Const. Art. VI, ยง29(A)) and are
subject to the terms of the resolution imposing the tax and the provisions of present
law (Chapter 2 of Subtitle II of Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
relative to sales taxes).
(b)Taxes or assessments may be levied only after the board has adopted an appropriate
resolution giving notice of its intention and including a general description of the
taxes or assessments to be levied, has published notice of this intention once a week
for two weeks in the official journal of the district, the first publication at least 14
days before a public hearing of the board on the proposed taxes or assessments. Also
requires voter approval of such taxes or assessments at a special election unless there
are no qualified electors in the district or subdistrict.
(7)Authorizes the district to create subdistricts, after notice and public hearing. Provides that
each subdistrict shall constitute a political subdivision of the state and be governed by the
board. (8)Authorizes the district or a subdistrict to issue bonds or other obligations or evidences of
indebtedness to provide funds to achieve its purposes, including payment of all or a portion
of the costs of a project or otherwise as necessary or convenient to carry out its purposes.
Provides with respect to such debt issuance and procedures therefor. Requires approval of
the State Bond Commission to issue bonds or other obligations, and authorizes the district
to pay related expenses. Authorizes establishment of a fund(s) by the board for the creation
of a debt service reserve, a renewal and replacement reserve, or other funds or reserves with
respect to the financing and operation of any project funded with bond proceeds. Authorizes
payment of related costs from proceeds of bonds or other obligations. Provides procedures
for contesting legality of debt issuance. Provides for exemption from state and local taxes
for obligations issued by the district or a subdistrict and authorizes investment in such
obligations by public bodies and specified financial institutions, insurance related entities,
specified fiduciaries, and retirement systems or pension funds.
(9)Provides for liberal construction of proposed law to effect its purposes.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 33:130.861 - 130.869)