HLS 18RS-1044 ORIGINAL
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 629
BY REPRESENTATIVE JONES
MUNICIPALITIES: Provides for the creation of a municipal consortium
1 AN ACT
2To enact Chapter 49 of Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, to be comprised of R.S.
3 33:9711, relative to municipalities; to create a municipal consortium comprised of
4 municipalities with smaller populations; to provide relative to the purpose,
5 governance, and powers and duties of the consortium; and to provide for related
6 matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. Chapter 49 of Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
9comprised of R.S. 33:9711, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 CHAPTER 49. MUNICIPAL CONSORTIUM
11 ยง9711. Municipal consortium
12 A. Findings and purpose. (1) The legislature finds that the citizens of the
13 state can benefit from smaller municipalities cooperating with one another to
14 highlight and leverage the creative assets of the municipalities to attract and retain
15 residents and businesses and to bring visitors to experience the unique nature of their
16 areas.
17 (2) The legislature recognizes that many smaller municipalities confront
18 structural changes and residential uprooting and that there is a need for revitalization
19 through creative initiatives that animate places and spark economic development.
20 This goal can be better achieved by allowing smaller municipalities to participate in
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 18RS-1044 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 629
1 a consortium so that they may use their collective resources to promote their local
2 assets which will help them to achieve gains in jobs, income, diversity, and livability.
3 B. Creation. There is hereby created a municipal consortium, referred to in
4 this Subpart as the "consortium", comprised of municipalities with a population of
5 not more than thirty-five thousand persons according to the latest federal decennial
6 census, for the purpose of fostering cooperation between the municipalities in order
7 to showcase the unique assets of their localities and to spark economic development.
8 C. Governance. The consortium shall be governed by a board of directors,
9 referred to in this Subpart as the "board". The membership of the board shall be as
10 provided by ordinance adopted by the governing authorities of the respective
11 municipalities; provided however, the board shall include at least one member of a
12 federally recognized tribe, one member of a state recognized tribe, one member of
13 the Louisiana House of Representatives, and one member of the Louisiana Senate.
14 The board shall adopt bylaws to govern its meetings and activities.
15 D. Powers and duties. The consortium, acting through its board, shall have
16 the following powers and duties:
17 (1) To sue and be sued.
18 (2) To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.
19 (3) To receive and expend funds collected pursuant to Subsection E of this
20 Section.
21 (4) To enter into contracts with individuals or entities, private or public.
22 (5) To incur debts and borrow money, but no debt so incurred shall be
23 payable from any source other than the revenues to be derived by the consortium.
24 (6) To pledge all or any part of its revenues.
25 (7) To perform or have performed any other function or activity necessary
26 or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the consortium.
27 E. Funding. The consortium may solicit and accept voluntary contributions
28 and grants to further the purposes of the consortium.
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HB NO. 629
1 F. Cooperation with federal and state agencies. The consortium, acting
2 through its board, may cooperate with the government of the United States and may
3 contribute financially to the expense of projects and initiatives as are or may be
4 authorized or adopted by the United States. The consortium may also cooperate with
5 all agencies, departments, and political subdivisions of the state of Louisiana in all
6 undertakings, the purpose of which shall be the furtherance of the objects and
7 purposes for which the consortium is created.
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 629 Original 2018 Regular Session Jones
Abstract: Creates a municipal consortium comprised of municipalities with a population
of not more than 35,000 persons.
Proposed law creates a municipal consortium consisting of municipalities with a population
of not more than 35,000 persons, for the purpose of fostering cooperation between the
municipalities in order to showcase the unique assets of their localities and to spark
economic development.
Proposed law provides that the consortium will be governed by a board of directors whose
membership will be determined by ordinance adopted by the respective municipalities.
Requires that the board include at least one member of a federally recognized tribe, one
member of a state recognized tribe, one member of the La. House of Representatives, and
one member of the La. Senate.
Proposed law provides for the powers and duties of the consortium including, but not limited
to, the following:
(1)To sue and be sued.
(2)To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.
(3)To receive and expend funds collected pursuant to proposed law.
(4)To enter into contracts with individuals or entities, private or public.
Proposed law authorizes the consortium to solicit and accept voluntary contributions and
grants to further its purposes.
(Adds R.S. 33:9711)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.