HLS 18RS-1044 REENGROSSED
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 of 1950, to be comprised
3 of R.S. 33:9711, relative to municipalities; to create a municipal consortium
4 comprised of certain municipalities and Indian tribes that choose to participate; to
5 provide relative to the purpose, governance, and powers and duties of the
6 consortium; and to provide for related 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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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 Section 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 that chooses to participate and any state or federally recognized Indian tribe
7 that chooses to participate. Any such municipality or Indian tribe shall indicate its
8 intention to join the consortium through adoption of a resolution. The purpose of the
9 consortium is to promote goods produced by business enterprises owned and
10 operated by residents of the participating municipality or members of the Indian tribe
11 and to otherwise retain and develop locally owned businesses, and the consortium
12 may take actions necessary to achieve such purpose.
13 C. Governance. The consortium shall be governed by a board of directors,
14 referred to in this Section as the "board". The membership of the board shall be
15 comprised of one member appointed by the governing authority of each participating
16 municipality or tribe. The board shall adopt bylaws to govern its meetings and
17 activities.
18 D. Powers and duties. The consortium, acting through its board, shall have
19 the following powers and duties:
20 (1) To develop a centralized market place, website, or other mechanism for
21 facilitating the sale of locally produced goods to customers.
22 (2) To expend funds received pursuant to Subsection E of this Section.
23 (3) To enter contracts and agreements with persons or entities, public or
24 private, necessary for its purposes.
25 (4) To apply for and receive grant funding that would contribute to the
26 purpose of the consortium.
27 (5) To adopt bylaws to govern its affairs and activities.
28 E. Funding. The consortium may solicit and accept voluntary contributions
29 and grants to further the purposes of the consortium.
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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.
8 G. The consortium shall have no authority to tax or levy fees or assessments
9 against any municipality that is a member of the consortium.
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 Reengrossed 2018 Regular Session Jones
Abstract: Creates a municipal consortium, comprised of certain municipalities and Indian
tribes that choose to participate, to promote goods produced by business enterprises
owned and operated by residents of each participating municipality or members of
each participating Indian tribe.
Proposed law creates a municipal consortium consisting of municipalities with a population
of not more than 35,000 persons and Indian tribes that choose to participate. Provides that
the purpose of the consortium is to promote goods produced by business enterprises owned
and operated by residents of each participating municipality or tribe.
Proposed law provides that the consortium will be governed by a board of directors whose
membership will be comprised of one member appointed by the governing authority of each
participating municipality or tribe.
Proposed law provides that the powers and duties of the consortium include the following:
(1)To develop a centralized market place, website, or other mechanism for facilitating
the sale of locally produced goods to customers.
(2)To expend donated funds.
(3)To enter contracts and agreements.
(4)To apply for and receive grant funding.
(5)To adopt bylaws to govern its affairs and activities.
Proposed law authorizes the consortium to solicit and accept voluntary contributions and
grants to further its purposes.
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Proposed law prohibits the consortium from levying any tax, fee, or assessment on any
member municipality.
(Adds R.S. 33:9711)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Provide that the consortium includes only municipalities and tribes that choose
to participate.
2. Provide for governance of the consortium by one person representing each
participating municipality and tribe rather than by a board that included two
legislators, two representatives of Indian tribes, and was otherwise comprised as
provided by municipal ordinance.
3. Provide that purposes of the district are focused on selling products produced by
local companies.
4. Remove certain powers of the consortium, including the power to sue and be
sued and to incur debt, and add certain other powers including power to develop
a centralized market place, website, or other mechanism for facilitating the sale
of locally produced goods to customers
5. Add prohibition on taxes, fees, and assessments.
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