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 529 Original 2019 Regular Session Foil
Abstract: Authorizes three local government appointees to serve on the Board of Commerce and
Industry who may participate and vote on industrial tax exemption applications proposed in
their respective locales.
Present constitution authorizes the Board of Commerce and Industry, with gubernatorial approval,
to enter into contracts exempting new manufacturing facilities and additions made to manufacturing
facilities from local ad valorem property taxes.
Present law creates the Board of Commerce and Industry and provides for its membership.
Proposed law adds three local government appointees to the Board of Commerce and Industry to
represent the local taxing authorities for the parish in which the project under consideration is located
when the Board is exercising its constitutional authority to enter into tax exemption contracts. The
appointees are as follows:
(1) One member appointed by the presiding officer of the authority.
(2) One member appointed by the presiding officer of the school board.
(3)One member appointed by the sheriff.
Proposed law gives the three local appointees the right to participate in and vote on matters the board
is considering related to an exemption contract located in their parish.
Proposed law provides that the terms of the local members will run concurrently with their
appointing authority and does not require Senate confirmation of the local members.
Proposed law requires that local members are qualified electors that do not hold public office and
are not employees of any of the appointing authorities.
Proposed law authorizes the three appointees from a parish to hold subcommittee meetings to
determine whether to approve or reject an application for an exemption contract in their parish.
Subcommittee meetings may be held outside Baton Rouge and are subject to the Open Meetings
Law.
Proposed law provides that if an item is approved by the subcommittee it shall be forwarded to the board for approval. If an item is rejected the board may only consider the item if the board, including
the appropriate local members, by majority vote brings the item up for consideration.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 51:923(B))