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 1131 Original 2016 Regular Session Broadwater
Abstract: Creates Transportation Infrastructure Districts
Proposed law creates nine Transportation Infrastructure Districts as follows:
1) District 02: Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and Terrebonne
parishes.
2) District 03: Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and
Vermilion parishes.
3) District 04: Bossier, Bienville, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Red River, and Webster parishes.
4) District 05: East Carroll, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland,
Union, and West Carroll parishes.
5) District 07: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis parishes.
6) District 08: Avoyelles, Grant, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, Vernon, and Winn parishes.
7) District 58: Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, Franklin, LaSalle, and Tensas parishes.
8) District 61: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe
Coupee, St. James, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana parishes.
9) District 62: Livingston, St. Helena, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and
Washington parishes.
Proposed law establishes a board of commissioners for each district composed of the secretary of
the Dept. of Transportation and Development (DOTD), three members from each parish in the
district who are residents of the parish and who are appointed by the CEO of the parish, and a
representative of a private entity that has contributed money or things of value to the district.
Requires that all board members be qualified voters holding no elective office and specifies that the
members who serve on any parish agency, board, or commission are eligible to serve provided they
receive no per diem from the agency, board, or commission.
Proposed law requires that the board elect its officers, that it meets at least once a month, and specifies that a quorum is two-thirds of the board membership with at least one representative each
from of a majority of parishes in the district. Prohibits proxy voting. Requires compliance with the
public records law and the open meetings law.
Proposed law authorizes the appointment by each district of a general manager, a secretary, a
treasurer, and a general counsel, none of whom may be board members.
Proposed law authorizes the district to adopt rules and regulations; use an official seal; plan and
construct projects within its jurisdiction; sue and be sued; contract for use of any project for utilities
and services; acquire and hold real property; acquire public or private lands; sell, assign, lease or
otherwise dispose of real property; establish control of access, authorize its agents to enter lands,
waters, and premises to make surveys, soundings, drilling, and examinations; purchase insurance;
receive grants, loans, advances, and contributions; open accounts at financial institutions; borrow
money and issue bonds; enter into contracts; authorize the investment of public and private money
to finance district projects; employ consultants, engineers, attorneys, accountants, and other experts;
exercise the power of eminent domain; and establish an infrastructure bank.
Effective and operative if and when the Act which originated as HLS 16RS-2031 of this 2016
Regular Session of the Legislature is enacted and becomes effective.
(Adds R.S. 48:2191 through 2195)