HLS 19RS-320 REENGROSSED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 553
BY REPRESENTATIVES JIMMY HARRIS AND BOUIE
DISTRICTS/ECONOMIC DEVEL: Provides relative to the Lower Ninth Ward Economic
Development District in Orleans Parish
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 33:2740.54(B)(1), (2), and (3) and (D)(1), relative to the Lower
3 Ninth Ward Economic Development District in Orleans Parish; to provide relative
4 to the governing board of the district; to change the membership of the board and the
5 qualifications of board members; to provide relative to the powers and duties of the
6 board; and to provide for related matters.
7 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
8 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
9 Louisiana.
10Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. R.S. 33:2740.54(B)(1), (2), and (3) and (D)(1) are hereby amended and
12reenacted to read as follows:
13 ยง2740.54. Lower Ninth Ward Economic Development District
14 * * *
15 B.(1) The district shall be governed by a nine-member an eleven-member
16 board of commissioners. The members shall be appointed as follows:
17 (a) One member of the board shall be appointed by the senator representing
18 the second senatorial district.
19 (b) One member of the board shall be appointed by the state representative
20 representing the ninety-ninth representative district.
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HB NO. 553
1 (c) One member of the board shall be appointed by the mayor of the city of
2 New Orleans.
3 (d) One member of the board shall be appointed by the New Orleans city
4 council member representing Council District E.
5 (e) Four members of the board shall be appointed by the Lower Ninth Ward
6 Economic Development Foundation.
7 (f) One member shall be appointed by the Lower Ninth Ward Neighborhood
8 Council.
9 (a) The state representative for the House of Representatives district which
10 encompasses all or the greater portion of the area of the district shall appoint two
11 members.
12 (b) The state senator for the Senate district encompassing all or the greater
13 portion of the area of the district shall appoint two members.
14 (c) The mayor of the city of New Orleans shall appoint two members.
15 (d) The city council member whose district encompasses all or a greater
16 portion of the area of the district shall appoint two members.
17 (e) The governing board of the Lower 9th Ward Neighborhood Association
18 shall appoint one member.
19 (f) The Table Connect Group shall appoint two members.
20 (2) Each commissioner member shall be a resident and qualified voter of
21 Orleans Parish and shall have their principal place of business or profession in, or
22 own property in, the district.
23 (3) Except for initial terms, a commissioner's term shall be two years and
24 serve at the pleasure of the elected official, foundation, or council that appointed
25 them Board members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
26 * * *
27 D.(1) The board shall prepare or cause to be prepared a plan or plans,
28 hereafter in this Section referred to in this Section as a "development plan",
29 specifying the public improvements, facilities, and services proposed to be furnished,
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HB NO. 553
1 constructed, or acquired for the district. The board may shall conduct hearings,
2 publish notice, and disseminate information with respect to the development plan.
3 * * *
4 Section 2. The terms of the members of the board of commissioners of the Lower
5Ninth Ward Economic Development District in office on the effective date of this Act
6terminate on the effective date of this Act; however, such members shall remain in office
7until the board members appointed as provided in this Act take office. The members of the
8board of commissioners of the Lower Ninth Ward Economic Development District shall be
9appointed and shall take office as provided in this Act and shall serve at the pleasure of the
10appointing authority as provided in this Act.
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 553 Reengrossed 2019 Regular Session Jimmy Harris
Abstract: Relative to the Lower Ninth Ward Economic Development District in Orleans
Parish, changes the membership of the governing board and the qualifications of
board members.
Present law creates the Lower Ninth Ward Economic Development District in Orleans Parish
as a political subdivision of the state to plan and facilitate the revitalization of the residential
and commercial areas within the district.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that the district is governed by a nine-member board of commissioners
appointed as follows:
(1)One member appointed by the senator representing District No. 2.
(2)One member appointed by the state representative representing District No. 99.
(3)One member appointed by the mayor of the city of New Orleans.
(4)One member appointed by the city council member representing Council District E.
(5)Four members appointed by the Lower Ninth Ward Economic Development
Foundation.
(6)One member appointed by the Lower Ninth Ward Neighborhood Council.
Proposed law instead provides that the district is governed by an 11-member board of
commissioners appointed as follows:
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HB NO. 553
(1)Two members appointed by the state representative for the House of Representatives
district encompassing all or the greater portion of the area of the district.
(2)Two members appointed by the state senator for the Senate district encompassing all
or the greater portion of the area of the district.
(3)Two members appointed by the mayor of the city of New Orleans.
(4)Two members appointed by the city council member whose district encompasses all
or a greater portion of the area of the district.
(5)One member appointed by the governing board of the Lower 9th Ward
Neighborhood Association.
(6)Two members appointed by the Table Connect Group.
Present law requires each board member to be a qualified voter of Orleans Parish and have
his principal place of business or profession in, or own property in, the district. Provides that
board members serve two year terms and serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
Proposed law instead requires each board member to be a resident and qualified voter of
Orleans Parish. Provides that board members serve at the pleasure of the appointing
authority.
Present law requires the board to prepare a development plan or plans, specifying the public
improvements, facilities, and services proposed to be furnished, constructed, or acquired for
the district. Authorizes the board to conduct hearings, publish notices, and disseminate
information with respect to the development plan.
Proposed law retains present law except requires rather than authorizes the board to conduct
hearings, publish notices, and disseminate information with respect to the development plan.
Proposed law provides that the terms of the board members in office on the effective date
of proposed law terminate on that date; however, the members must remain in office until
the board members appointed as provided in proposed law take office.
(Amends R.S. 33:2740.54(B)(1), (2), and (3) and (D)(1))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Municipal, Parochial
and Cultural Affairs to the original bill:
1. Add provisions changing the qualifications of board members.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Remove the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association as an appointing authority
and replaces it with the Lower 9th Ward Neighborhood Association.
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