HLS 19RS-301 ENGROSSED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 56
BY REPRESENTATIVE MARCELLE
DISTRICTS/CRIME PREVENT: Provides relative to the Goodwood Homesites Crime
Prevention and Neighborhood Improvement District in East Baton Rouge Parish
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 33:9097.20(D)(1), (3)(a), (6), and (7), (E)(9), and
3 (F)(introductory paragraph), (1), and (5)(b) and to enact R.S. 33:9097.20(D)(3)(d),
4 relative to the Goodwood Homesites Crime Prevention and Neighborhood
5 Improvement District in East Baton Rouge Parish; to provide relative to the
6 governing board of the district; to provide relative to the membership of the board;
7 to provide relative to the powers and duties of the board; to provide relative to the
8 parcel fee imposed within the district; to provide relative to the authority to impose
9 such fee; to provide relative to the expiration and renewal of such fee; and to provide
10 for related matters.
11 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
12 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
13 Louisiana.
14Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
15 Section 1. R.S. 33:9097.20(D)(1), (3)(a), (6), and (7), (E)(9), and (F)(introductory
16paragraph), (1), and (5)(b) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 33:9097.20(D)(3)(d)
17is hereby enacted to read as follows:
18 ยง9097.20. Goodwood Homesites Crime Prevention and Neighborhood Improvement
19 District
20 * * *
Page 1 of 7
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-301 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 56
1 D. Governance. (1) The district shall be governed by a board of eleven
2 commissioners, referred to in this Section as the "board". The board shall be
3 composed as follows:
4 (a) The president of the Goodwood Homesites Civic Association, Inc.,
5 referred to in this Section as the "association", shall be a member.
6 (b) The board of directors of the association shall appoint six two members.
7 (c) The mayor-president of the city of Baton Rouge, parish of East Baton
8 Rouge shall appoint one member from a list of nominations submitted by the
9 association.
10 (d)(c) The member of the governing authority of the city of Baton Rouge,
11 parish of East Baton Rouge, whose council district encompasses all or the greater
12 portion of the area of the district shall appoint one member from a list of nominations
13 submitted by the association three members.
14 (e)(d) The member of the Louisiana House of Representatives whose district
15 encompasses all or the greater portion of the area of the district shall appoint one
16 member three members.
17 (f) The member of the Louisiana Senate whose district encompasses all or
18 the greater portion of the area of the district shall appoint one member.
19 (e) The assessor for the parish of East Baton Rouge shall appoint two
20 members.
21 * * *
22 (3)(a) Board members serving pursuant to Subparagraphs (1)(b) through (f)
23 (1)(b) through (e) of this Subsection shall serve four-year terms after initial terms as
24 provided in this Subparagraph. Two members shall serve initial terms of one year,
25 two shall serve initial terms of two years, three shall serve initial terms of three
26 years, and three shall serve initial terms of four years, as determined by lot at the first
27 meeting of the board.
28 * * *
Page 2 of 7
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-301 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 56
1 (d) Any board member may be removed for cause by a majority vote of the
2 board.
3 * * *
4 (6) The minute books and archives of the district shall be maintained by the
5 secretary of the board. The monies, funds, and accounts of the district shall be in the
6 official custody of the board treasurer. The board may hire paid or unpaid
7 administrative support staff.
8 (7) The board shall adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary
9 or advisable for conducting its business affairs. Rules and regulations of the board
10 relative to the notice and conduct of meetings shall conform to the Open Meetings
11 Law. The board shall hold regular meetings as shall be provided for in the bylaws
12 and may hold special meetings at such times and places within the district as may be
13 prescribed in the bylaws. The board shall also be subject to the Public Records Law
14 and the Code of Governmental Ethics.
15 * * *
16 E. Powers and duties. The district, acting through its board, shall have the
17 following powers and duties:
18 * * *
19 (9) To procure and maintain liability insurance, as deemed necessary by the
20 board, against any personal or legal liability of a board member that may be asserted
21 or incurred based upon his services as a member of the board or that may arise as a
22 result of his actions taken within the scope and discharge of his duties as a member
23 of the board.
24 * * *
25 F. Parcel Fee fee. The governing authority of the city of Baton Rouge,
26 parish of East Baton Rouge is hereby authorized to district, acting through its board,
27 may impose and collect a parcel fee within the district subject to and in accordance
28 with the provisions of this Subsection.
Page 3 of 7
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-301 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 56
1 (1) The amount of the fee shall be as requested provided by duly adopted
2 resolution of the board. The fee shall be a flat fee per parcel of land not to exceed
3 two hundred dollars per year for residential parcels, five hundred dollars per year for
4 commercial parcels, and ninety dollars per year for parcels the owner of which
5 qualifies for and receives a special assessment level of ad valorem taxes as provided
6 in Article VII, Section 18(G)(1) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
7 * * *
8 (5)
9 * * *
10 (b) The fee shall expire five years after its initial levy but at the time
11 provided in the proposition authorizing the fee. The fee may be renewed if approved
12 by a majority of the registered voters of the district voting on the proposition at an
13 election as provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph. Any election to authorize
14 the renewal of the fee shall be held only at the same time as a regularly scheduled
15 election in the parish of East Baton Rouge. If the fee is renewed, the term of the
16 imposition of the fee shall be as provided in the proposition authorizing such
17 renewal, not to exceed eight ten years.
18 * * *
19 Section 2. The terms of the members of the board of commissioners of the
20Goodwood Homesites Crime Prevention and Neighborhood Improvement District in office
21on the effective date of this Act shall terminate on the effective date of this Act; however,
22such members shall remain in office until the board members appointed as provided in this
23Act take office. The members of the board of commissioners of the Goodwood Homesites
24Crime Prevention and Neighborhood Improvement District shall be appointed and shall take
25office as provided in this Act and shall serve terms of office as provided in this Act.
26 Section 3. Notwithstanding R.S. 33:9097.20(F)(introductory paragraph) as enacted
27by this Act, the governing authority of the city of Baton Rouge, parish of East Baton Rouge
28shall continue to impose and collect the parcel fee for the remainder of the period that it was
29authorized to do so by the voters on December 6, 2014. At no time shall a property owner
Page 4 of 7
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-301 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 56
1in the Goodwood Homesites Crime Prevention and Neighborhood Improvement District be
2subject to an annual parcel fee, whether paid to the district or to the city-parish on behalf of
3the district, that exceeds the rate limit established either by law or by a proposition
4authorizing the imposition of the fee within the district.
5 Section 4. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
6signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
7by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
8vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
9effective 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 56 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Marcelle
Abstract: Relative to the Goodwood Homesites Crime Prevention and Neighborhood
Improvement District in East Baton Rouge Parish, makes changes to the membership
of the board of commissioners, provides with respect to the board's powers and
duties, and provides relative to the parcel fee imposed within the district.
Present law creates and provides for the Goodwood Homesites Crime Prevention and
Neighborhood Improvement District in East Baton Rouge Parish as a political subdivision
of the state to aid in crime prevention and to add to the security of district residents by
providing for an increase in the presence of law enforcement personnel in the district.
Provides for district boundaries.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that the district shall be governed by an 11-member board of
commissioners composed as follows:
(1)The president of the Goodwood Homesites Civic Assoc, Inc. (association).
(2)Six members appointed by the board of directors of the association.
(3)One member appointed by the mayor-president of the city of Baton Rouge, parish
of East Baton Rouge from a list of nominations submitted by the association.
(4)One member appointed by the member of the governing authority of the city of
Baton Rouge, parish of East Baton Rouge whose council district encompasses all or
the greater portion of the area of the district from a list of nominations submitted by
the association.
(5)One member appointed by the member of the La. House of Representatives whose
district encompasses all or the greater portion of the area of the district.
Page 5 of 7
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-301 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 56
(6)One member appointed by the member of the La. Senate whose district encompasses
all or the greater portion of the area of the district.
Proposed law provides instead that the district shall be governed by an 11-member board of
commissioners composed as follows:
(1)The president of the association.
(2)Two members appointed by the board of directors of the association.
(3)Three members appointed by the member of the governing authority of the city of
Baton Rouge, parish of East Baton Rouge, whose council district encompasses all
or the greater portion of the area of the district from a list of nominations submitted
by the association.
(4)Three members appointed by the member of the La. House of Representatives whose
district encompasses all or the greater portion of the area of the district.
(5)Two members appointed by the assessor for East Baton Rouge Parish.
Present law provides that appointed members serve four-year staggered terms. Proposed law
retains present law and additionally provides that a board member may be removed for cause
by a majority vote of the board.
Present law requires that the monies, funds, and accounts of the district be in the official
custody of the board. Proposed law instead requires that the monies, funds, and accounts be
in the official custody of the board's treasurer.
Present law provides relative to the powers and duties of the board, including the power to
procure and maintain liability insurance against any personal or legal liability of a board
member that arises out of the performance of his duties.
Proposed law retains present law but clarifies that the board may procure insurance as it
deems necessary.
Present law authorizes the governing authority of the city of Baton Rouge, parish of East
Baton Rouge to impose and collect a parcel fee within the district, subject to voter approval.
Proposed law instead authorizes the district to impose and collect a parcel fee within the
district, subject to voter approval.
Present law provides that the parcel fee expires five years after its initial levy. Authorizes
renewal of the fee, subject to voter approval, for a term not to exceed eight years.
Proposed law provides instead that the fee expires at the time provided in the proposition
authorizing the fee. Authorizes renewal, subject to voter approval, for a term not to exceed
10 years.
Proposed law provides that the terms of the members of the board in office on the effective
date of proposed law shall terminate on that date; however, the members must remain in
office until the members appointed as provided in proposed law take office.
Proposed law requires the city of Baton Rouge, parish of East Baton Rouge to continue to
impose and collect the parcel fee for the remainder of the period that it was authorized to do
so by the voters. Provides that no property owner in the district shall be subject to an annual
parcel fee, whether paid to the district or to the city-parish on behalf of the district, that
Page 6 of 7
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-301 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 56
exceeds the rate limit established either by law or by a proposition authorizing the
imposition of the fee within the district.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 33:9097.20(D)(1), (3)(a), (6), and (7), (E)(9), and (F)(intro. para.), (1), and
(5)(b); Adds R.S. 33:9097.20(D)(3)(d))
Page 7 of 7
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.