HLS 15RS-966 REENGROSSED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 709
BY REPRESENTATIVE HARRISON
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
LEVEES/BDS & DISTRICTS: Provides relative to per diem for members and board of
commissioners of levee districts and levee and drainage districts
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 38:308(A) and to enact R.S. 38:308(C), relative to per diem of
3 board members; to change the per diem of certain members and board of
4 commissioners to equal federal per diem rates; to require a board of commissioners
5 to provide public notice of its intent to vote on whether or not to increase the per
6 diem of its members above a certain amount; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 38:308(A) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 38:308(C) is
9hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 ยง308. Per diem; number of days per diem allowed; travel expenses; salary
11 A. Any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, particularly
12 any special provisions in this Title relative to each levee district and levee and
13 drainage district in the state, any board of commissioners of any levee district and
14 levee and drainage district in this state may by a vote of two-thirds of the total
15 membership of the board fix the per diem of its members; however, the per diem of
16 each member shall not exceed seventy-five dollars per day the rate allowable for per
17 diem deduction pursuant to 26 USC 162(h)(1)(B)(ii) during the time such member
18 is in actual attendance upon the board or performing duties authorized by the board.
19 Such per diem shall be payable for thirty-six days per year. During the period of an
20 emergency as declared and determined by the governor, each district or portion of
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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HB NO. 709
1 a district which has been declared to be under such an emergency by the governor
2 shall be authorized to hold as many meetings or emergency activities as the board
3 deems necessary and the members shall be paid per diem for such meetings or
4 activities. Each member shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with
5 state travel regulations as prescribed by the Division of Administration. In lieu of
6 the per diem provision which is herein made, a president of any levee board or levee
7 and drainage board may receive a salary if he also acts as administrator for said
8 board. However, in no instance shall said salary exceed the sum of one thousand
9 dollars per month. The per diem, salary, and expenses shall be paid out of the funds
10 of the districts on the warrants of the presidents, duly attested by the secretary of the
11 board.
12 * * *
13 C. A board of commissioners of any levee district and levee and drainage
14 district in this state shall provide at least two weeks notice to the public of its intent
15 to vote on whether or not to fix the per diem of its members above seventy-five
16 dollars.
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 709 Reengrossed 2015 Regular Session Harrison
Abstract: Provides relative to per diem for members and board of commissioners of levee
districts and levee and drainage districts.
Present law, in pertinent part, provides that each levee district and levee and drainage district
in the state, any board of commissioners of any levee district and levee and drainage district
in this state may by a vote of 2/3 of the total membership of the board fix the per diem of its
members; however, the per diem of each member cannot exceed $75 during the time such
member is in actual attendance upon the board or performing duties authorized by the board.
Specifies that the per diem may be payable for 36 days per year. Provides that during the
period of an emergency as determined by the governor, each district which has been declared
to be under such an emergency by the governor may be authorized to hold as many meetings
or emergency activities as the board deems necessary and the members shall be paid per
diem for such meetings or activities. Authorizes the reimbursement of each member for
travel expenses in accordance with state travel regulations as prescribed by the Division of
Administration.
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HB NO. 709
Proposed law retains present law except ties the per diem rate of members and board of
commissioners of levee districts and levee and drainage districts to the federal per diem
rates.
Proposed law requires that a board of commissioners of any levee district and levee and
drainage district in this state provide at least two weeks notice to the public of its intent to
vote on whether or not to fix the per diem of its members above $75.
(Amends R.S. 38:308(A); Adds R.S. 38:308(C))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Transportation,
Highways and Public Works to the original bill:
1. Add a requirement that the board of commissioners of any levee district and
levee and drainage district in this state must provide at least two weeks notice to
the public of its intent to vote on whether or not to fix the per diem of its
members above $75.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Make a technical change.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.