SLS 15RS-189 ENGROSSED
2015 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 57
BY SENATORS DORSEY-COLOMB, AMEDEE, BROOME, BROWN, GALLOT,
GUILLORY, KOSTELKA, MORRELL, MURRAY, NEVERS,
PETERSON, RISER, TARVER, WALSWORTH AND WHITE AND
REPRESENTATIVES BARROW, WESLEY BISHOP, BOUIE,
BURRELL, JACKSON, JAMES, PIERRE, PRICE, SMITH AND
ALFRED WILLIAMS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS/GROUNDS. Provides for placement of a statue of the Reverend
Theodore Judson Jemison Sr., better known as Reverend Dr. T.J. Jemison. (8/1/15)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 49:149.64, relative to public grounds located in Baton Rouge; to provide for
3 the erection of a statue memorializing the Reverend Dr. T.J. Jemison; to provide for
4 private funding for the establishment and maintenance of the statue; to create a
5 commission; to provide for expiration of the commission; and to provide for related
6 matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 49:149.64 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 ยง149.64. Reverend Dr. T.J. Jemison Memorial Statue, Baton Rouge
10 A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, and
11 particularly any contrary provision of R.S. 49:149.62, the allocation and use of
12 space within the A.Z. Young Park grounds, shall be as provided in this Section.
13 The provisions of this Section shall apply to a portion of ground situated in the
14 city of Baton Rouge, having the municipal address of 755 North Third Street,
15 and bounded by the LaSalle Building, North Third Street, the Pentagon
16 Barracks, and the Capitol Park Welcome Center.
17 B. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, there shall be placed
Page 1 of 4
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 57
SLS 15RS-189 ENGROSSED
1 upon the A.Z. Young Park grounds, in a prominent place, a memorial statue of
2 the Reverend Dr. T.J. Jemison, subject to the availability of private funds for
3 its planning, construction, and maintenance.
4 C.(1) In recognition of Reverend Dr. T.J. Jemison, the Department of
5 Culture, Recreation and Tourism shall choose a prominent place within A.Z.
6 Young Park to display the memorial statue to Reverend Dr. T.J. Jemison. The
7 design, content, and location of the statue shall be subject to the approval of the
8 Reverend Dr. T.J. Jemison Memorial Commission. In addition, any dedication
9 of funds for the memorial statue shall be placed in an account for such purpose
10 in accordance with the guidelines managed by the Baton Rouge Area
11 Foundation. The funds shall be used for funding the design, content,
12 construction, and maintenance of a Reverend Dr. T.J. Jemison statue on the
13 grounds of the A.Z. Young Park in Baton Rouge and for future initiatives
14 relative to Reverend Jemison's legacy.
15 (2) The funds collected shall be deposited into the Reverend Dr. T.J.
16 Jemison Memorial Statue account and managed by the Baton Rouge Area
17 Foundation for the purposes as outlined in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.
18 D.(1) There is hereby created the Reverend Dr. T.J. Jemison Memorial
19 Commission within the legislative branch of state government. The commission
20 shall consist of the following members:
21 (a) The living descendants of the first degree of Reverend Dr. T.J.
22 Jemison, or their designees.
23 (b) One child of a descendant of the first degree of Reverend Dr. T.J.
24 Jemison, or his designee.
25 (c) Two persons who shall be ministers selected by the living descendants
26 of the first degree of Reverend Dr. T.J. Jemison.
27 (d) The member of the House of Representatives from District 67.
28 (e) The member of the Senate from District 14.
29 (2) The first meeting of the commission shall occur during the month of
Page 2 of 4
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 57
SLS 15RS-189 ENGROSSED
1 February of 2016 and shall be called and presided over by the member of the
2 Senate. At such meeting the commission shall select its chairman, vice
3 chairman, and any other officers it deems necessary. The commission shall
4 meet as necessary thereafter to carry out its duties. Members of the commission
5 shall serve without compensation, except that legislative members shall receive
6 such compensation and reimbursement as is allowed by the rules of each
7 member's respective house of the legislature.
8 (3) The duties of the commission shall include:
9 (a) Making recommendations regarding and approving the design and
10 content of the memorial statue in accordance with state law.
11 (b) Making recommendations regarding and approving the location of
12 the memorial statue.
13 (4) The provisions of this Subsection shall expire on February 15, 2026,
14 and the commission shall be abolished on such date.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michael Bell.
DIGEST
SB 57 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Dorsey-Colomb
Proposed law authorizes a Reverend Dr. T.J. Jemison memorial statue to be erected in the
A.Z. Young Park in Baton Rouge.
Proposed law provides for the statue to be placed in a prominent location within the park.
Proposed law provides for private funds to be placed in an account for the establishment and
maintenance of the statue to be managed by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.
Proposed law creates the Reverend Dr. T.J. Jemison Memorial Statue Commission within
the legislative branch of state government. Provides that the commission is composed of the
children of Reverend Dr. T.J. Jemison, or their designees, a grandchild of Reverend Dr. T.J.
Jemison or his designee, two ministers selected by his children, the member of the House
of Representatives from District 67 and the member of the Senate from District 14.
Proposed law also provides that the duties of the commission include making
recommendations regarding and approving the design, content, and location of the memorial
statue.
Proposed law provides that the first commission meeting shall occur during February of
2016 and shall be called and presided over by the member of the Senate. Requires the
commission at its first meeting to select its chairman, vice chairman, and other officers.
Provides that commission members serve without compensation, except that legislative
members shall receive compensation and reimbursement as allowed by the rules of each
Page 3 of 4
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 57
SLS 15RS-189 ENGROSSED
such member's respective house.
Proposed law provides that the provisions of proposed law which provide for the
composition and duties of the commission shall expire on February 15, 2026, and that the
commission shall be abolished on that date.
Effective August 1, 2015.
(Adds R.S. 49:149.64)
Page 4 of 4
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.