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2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 787
BY REPRESENTATIVE IVEY
DISTRICTS/CRIME PREVENT: Provides relative to the Wedgewood Crime Prevention
and Improvement District in East Baton Rouge Parish
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 33:9097.3(B), (F), and (G)(1) and to enact R.S. 33:9097.3(I),
3 relative to the Wedgewood Crime Prevention and Improvement District in East
4 Baton Rouge Parish; to modify the boundaries of the district; to provide relative to
5 the imposition and collection of the district's parcel fee; to provide relative to the
6 budget approval process for the district; to provide relative to the indemnification
7 and exculpation of board members; and to provide for related matters.
8 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
9 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
10 Louisiana.
11Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
12 Section 1. R.S. 33:9097.3(B), (F), and (G)(1) are hereby amended and reenacted and
13R.S. 33:9097.3(I) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
14 ยง9097.3. Wedgewood Crime Prevention and Improvement District
15 * * *
16 B. Boundaries. The boundaries of the district shall be coterminous with the
17 boundaries of the Wedgewood Subdivision in East Baton Rouge Parish as
18 established in the official subdivision plat filed with the clerk of court of East Baton
19 Rouge Parish. Along with the properties within the aforementioned boundaries, also
20 included are all commercial properties fronting the western boundary of O'Neal Lane
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1 north of the southern boundary of Lot 157-A-1-A Wedgewood Subdivision and south
2 of I-12, including Tract B-1 of the Wilbur Whitehead property and all commercial
3 lots fronting Hatteras Avenue; the following lots of the G. B. Mundinger Tract: Lots
4 C-2-D, B-2-B-1, B-1, A-1-C-1, A-4-A-1-A-1, B-2-A, E-1-B, E-2, E-3, E-4, G-1-1,
5 G-1-2-A-1-A, and a 1.82 acre tract also known as a portion of Lot F; and the Forest
6 Park Office Plaza Condominium fronting the north boundary of S. Harrell's Ferry
7 Road.
8 * * *
9 F. Parcel fee. The governing authority of East Baton Rouge Parish is hereby
10 authorized to district may impose and collect a parcel fee within the district subject
11 to and in accordance with the provisions of this Subsection:
12 (1) The amount of the fee shall be as requested by duly adopted resolution
13 of the governing authority of the district. The fee, however, shall not exceed fifty
14 one hundred fifty dollars per parcel per year for parcels zoned residential and four
15 hundred dollars per parcel per year for parcels zoned commercial. The initial fee
16 shall be ninety-five dollars per parcel per year for parcels zoned residential and two
17 hundred fifty dollars per parcel per year for parcels zoned commercial.
18 (2)(a) The fee shall be imposed on each improved parcel located within the
19 district.
20 (b) For purposes of this Section, "parcel" means a lot, a subdivided portion
21 of ground, or an individual tract and does not mean a "condominium parcel" as
22 defined in R.S. 9:1121.103. Thus, with respect to condominiums, the fee collector
23 shall impose the parcel fee on each lot on which condominiums are situated and not
24 on individual condominium units.
25 (c) The owner of the parcel shall be responsible for payment of the fee.
26 (3)(a) The fee shall be imposed only after the question of its imposition has
27 been approved by a majority of the registered voters of the district voting at an
28 election held for that purpose in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code. At
29 least thirty days prior to any election held to approve imposition of a parcel fee, the
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1 board of commissioners shall mail notification of the upcoming election to each
2 registered voter of the district and to the owner of a parcel if the owner is not a
3 registered voter of the district. No other election shall be required except as provided
4 by this Paragraph.
5 (b) The election on the question of the imposition of the fee shall be held at
6 the election scheduled to be held in the parish on September 30, 2006 same time as
7 a regularly scheduled election in East Baton Rouge Parish.
8 (c) The fee shall be levied beginning on January 1, 2007. The fee shall
9 expire ten years from its initial levy but may be renewed as provided in
10 Subparagraph (3)(a) of this Subsection at the primary election for members of
11 congress prior to the expiration of the fee expire ten years from its initial levy but
12 may be renewed if approved by a majority of the registered voters of the district
13 voting on the proposition at an election as provided in Subparagraph (a) of this
14 Paragraph. Any election to authorize the renewal of the fee shall be held only at the
15 same time as a regularly scheduled election in the parish of East Baton Rouge. If the
16 fee is renewed, the term of the imposition of the fee shall be as provided in the
17 proposition authorizing such renewal, not to exceed ten years.
18 (d) If the fee is not approved at the election held pursuant to
19 Subparagraph(3)(b) of this Section, the provisions of this Section shall be null and
20 void and of no effect The board of commissioners may increase the amount of the
21 parcel fee twice, without an election, not to exceed the maximum amount authorized
22 in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. However, not less than three years but no more
23 than six years after approval of the parcel fee by a majority of the registered voters
24 of the district as provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the amount of the
25 parcel fee may be increased only one time, not to exceed one hundred twenty dollars
26 per parcel per year for parcels zoned residential and three hundred twenty-five
27 dollars per parcel per year for parcels zoned commercial.
28 (4) The fee shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as ad
29 valorem taxes are collected by the parish.
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1 (5) Any parcel fee which is unpaid shall be added to the tax rolls of the
2 parish and shall be enforced with the same authority and subject to the same
3 penalties and procedures as unpaid ad valorem taxes.
4 (6) The parish of East Baton Rouge sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish shall
5 remit to the district all amounts collected not more than sixty days after collection.
6 However, the parish may retain one percent of the amount collected as a collection
7 fee. The district may enter into an agreement with the sheriff to authorize the sheriff
8 to retain a collection fee.
9 G. Budget. (1) The board of commissioners shall adopt an annual budget
10 in accordance with the Louisiana Local Government Budget Act, R.S. 39:1301 et
11 seq. The budget and all amendments shall be submitted to the East Baton Rouge
12 Metropolitan Council.
13 * * *
14 I. Indemnification and Exculpation. (1) The district shall indemnify its
15 officers and board members to the fullest extent permitted by R.S. 12:227, as fully
16 as if the district were a nonprofit corporation governed thereby, and as may be
17 provided in the district's bylaws.
18 (2) No board member or officer of the district shall be liable to the district
19 or to any individual who resides, owns property, visits, or otherwise conducts
20 business in the district for monetary damages for breach of his duties as a board
21 member or officer, provided that the foregoing provision shall not eliminate or limit
22 any liability of a board member or officer for any of the following:
23 (a) Acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
24 misconduct or a knowing violation of law.
25 (b) Any transaction from which he derived an improper personal benefit.
26 (3) To the fullest extent permitted by R.S. 9:2792 et seq., including R.S.
27 9:2792.1 through 2792.9, a person serving the district as a board member shall not
28 be individually liable for any act or omission arising out of or related to the
29 performance of his duties.
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1 Section 2. The provisions of this Act shall have no effect on the parcel fee being
2imposed within the Wedgewood Crime Prevention and Improvement District on the
3effective date of this Act that was approved by the voters in the district at an election held
4on September 30, 2006. The fee shall continue to be imposed until such time as it expires
5as provided in the proposition. The district may then impose a parcel fee as provided in this
6Act if the imposition of the parcel fee has been approved by the district's voters as provided
7in this Act.
8 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
9signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
10by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
11vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
12effective on the day following such approval.
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 787 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Ivey
Abstract: Relative to the Wedgewood Crime Prevention and Improvement District in East
Baton Rouge Parish, changes the boundaries of the district, provisions for the
imposition and collection of the parcel fee, the budget approval process, and provides
for indemnification and exculpation of its officers and board members.
Present law creates the Wedgewood Crime Prevention and Improvement District in East
Baton Rouge Parish as a political subdivision of the state for the purpose of aiding in crime
prevention and providing for the overall betterment of the district. Provides for a seven-
member board of commissioners and provides for district boundaries.
Proposed law retains present law but changes the district's boundaries.
Present law authorizes the governing authority of East Baton Rouge Parish to impose and
collect a parcel fee within the district. Provides that the maximum amount of the fee shall
be as requested by a duly adopted resolution of the board of the district. Further provides
that the fee shall be imposed on each improved parcel of land not to exceed $50 per year.
Proposed law authorizes the district rather than the parish to impose and collect the parcel
fee. Changes the maximum amount of the fee from $50 to $150 for parcels zoned residential
and provides for a maximum $400 fee for parcels zoned commercial. Proposed law further
provides that the initial fee shall be $95 for parcels zoned residential and $250 for parcels
zoned commercial.
Present law provides that the fee shall be levied beginning Jan. 1, 2007. Provides that the
fee shall expire 10 years after its initial levy and authorizes a renewal of such fee. Further
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provides that if the fee is not approved at the election on Sept. 30, 2006, then the provisions
of present law shall be null and void and of no effect.
Proposed law provides that the fee shall expire 10 years after its initial levy, but may be
renewed if approved by the registered voters of the district. Provides that any election to
authorize the renewal of the fee shall be held at the same time as a regularly scheduled
election in the parish of East Baton Rouge. Provides that if the fee is renewed, the term of
the imposition of the fee shall be as provided in the proposition authorizing such renewal,
not to exceed 10 years.
Proposed law authorizes the board of commissioners to increase the amount of the parcel fee
twice, without an election, not to exceed the maximum amount authorized in proposed law.
Provides limitations on the timing and amount of the first such increase.
Present law requires the parish to remit to the district all amounts collected not more than
60 days after collection. Proposed law requires the sheriff, rather than the parish, to remit
to the district all amounts collected.
Present law authorizes the parish to retain 1% of the amount collected as a collection fee.
Proposed law removes present law and instead authorizes the district to enter into an
agreement with the sheriff to retain a collection fee.
Present law requires the board of commissioners to adopt an annual budget in accordance
with the Local Government Budget Act. Provides that the budget and all amendments shall
be submitted to the East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council.
Proposed law removes the requirement that the budget and all amendments be submitted to
the East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council.
Proposed law requires the district to indemnify its officers and board members to the fullest
extent permitted by present law (relative to indemnification of officers, directors, employees,
and agents of nonprofit corporations) as fully as if the district were a nonprofit corporation
governed thereby and as may be provided in district bylaws. Provides that no board member
or officer shall be liable to the district or to any individual who resides, owns property, visits,
or otherwise conducts business in the district for monetary damages for breach of duties.
Provides that this shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a board member or officer for:
(1)Acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law.
(2)Any transaction from which he derived an improper personal benefit.
Proposed law provides that a board member or officer shall not be individually liable for any
act or omission arising out of the performance of his duties to the fullest extent permitted by
present law relative to limitation of liability of directors, officers, and trustees of certain
organizations and districts.
Provides that the provisions of the Act have no effect on the parcel fee being imposed within
the district on the effective date of the Act that was approved by the voters in the district at
an election held on Sept. 30, 2006. Provides that the fee shall continue to be imposed until
it expires. Authorizes the district to then impose a parcel fee as provided in the Act if the
imposition of the fee has been approved by the district's voters.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 33:9097.3(B),(F), and (G)(1); Adds R.S. 33:9097.3(I))
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HB NO. 787
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Municipal, Parochial
and Cultural Affairs to the original bill:
1. Relative to the remittance of the parcel fee, require the sheriff of East Baton
Rouge Parish rather than the parish governing authority to remit to the district
amounts collected.
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