HLS 201ES-244 ORIGINAL
2020 First Extraordinary Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 15
BY REPRESENTATIVE FREEMAN
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES: Provides relative to a special advisory committee for
redistricting
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To create the Special Advisory Committee for Redistricting to study and make
3 recommendations to the legislature and the public regarding redistricting.
4 WHEREAS, the drawing of electoral districts is among the most important duties of
5the legislature; and
6 WHEREAS, increasing transparency and public participation in the redistricting
7process and promoting public commentary and discussion about redistricting may help the
8legislature to explore a broader range of representational possibilities relative to
9configuration of districts around various communities of interest; and
10 WHEREAS, the creation of a special advisory committee, composed of persons
11representing the diversity of the state, may facilitate public participation in the redistricting
12process and result in better redistricting decision making.
13 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
14create the Special Advisory Committee for Redistricting to study and make
15recommendations to the legislature and the public regarding redistricting.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the special advisory committee shall be
17composed of the following members:
18 (1) A non-voting chairman selected by the chairman of the House Committee on
19House and Governmental Affairs and the chairman of the Senate Committee on Senate and
20Governmental Affairs, acting jointly.
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HCR NO. 15
1 (2) Three persons selected by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall
2reflect the demographic diversity of the state of Louisiana specifically in gender, race,
3ethnicity, and political party affiliation, but who shall not be legislators.
4 (3) Three persons selected by the president of the Senate, who shall reflect the
5demographic diversity of the state of Louisiana specifically in gender, race, ethnicity, and
6political party affiliation, but who shall not be legislators.
7 (4) Three persons selected by the governor, who shall reflect the demographic
8diversity of the state of Louisiana specifically in gender, race, ethnicity, and political party
9affiliation.
10 (5) One person selected by the chief justice of the supreme court.
11 (6) One person selected by the secretary of state.
12 (7) One person selected by the chair of the Democratic Party of Louisiana.
13 (8) One person selected by the chair of the Republican Party of Louisiana.
14 (9) One person selected by the chair of the Independent Party of Louisiana.
15 (10) One person selected by the speaker of the House of Representatives and the
16president of the Senate, acting jointly, who is either an academic or legal professional or a
17demographer with relevant knowledge of or experience with the redistricting process in
18Louisiana.
19 (11) Two persons selected by the special advisory committee as representatives from
20nonprofit civic organizations, who shall reflect the demographic diversity of the state of
21Louisiana specifically in gender, race, ethnicity, and political party affiliation.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any vacancy on the special advisory committee
23shall be filled in the manner of initial selection as soon as possible.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the special advisory committee shall study and
25make recommendations to the legislature and the public regarding all of the following:
26 (1) Past redistricting proceedings including, at minimum, those from the two most
27recent redistricting cycles.
28 (2) Best redistricting practices established in other states.
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HCR NO. 15
1 (3) Redistricting tools and resources that have become available since the most
2recently completed redistricting cycle, including digital map-drawing tools, redistricting
3algorithms, and other technological resources.
4 (4) Proposed redistricting plans.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no later than July 1, 2020, the speaker of the
6House of Representatives and the president of the Senate shall send written notice of their
7intent to constitute the special advisory committee to all members of the legislature, the
8governor, the chief justice of the supreme court, the secretary of state, and the chairs of the
9Democratic, Republican, and Independent parties of Louisiana with a request that selections
10to the special advisory committee made pursuant to this Resolution be submitted not later
11than July 31, 2020.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the special advisory committee shall hold its
13organizational meeting no later than August 15, 2020, to establish a meeting schedule to
14enable the committee to perform its functions and duties in the manner required by this
15Resolution and to conduct any other business deemed necessary.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the special advisory committee shall report its
17findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than March 1, 2021 and may make
18additional recommendations to the legislature until December 31, 2021, after which time
19it shall be dissolved.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that speaker of the House of Representatives and the
21president of the Senate shall designate appropriate staff to provide assistance to the special
22advisory committee in carrying out its duties and that the special advisory committee may
23call upon the staffs of any department, agency, or official of the state for data and assistance,
24and all such departments, agencies, and officials shall cooperate with the special advisory
25committee.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the special advisory committee
27shall serve without compensation.
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HCR NO. 15
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)]
HCR 15 Original 2020 First Extraordinary Session Freeman
Creates the Special Advisory Committee for Redistricting to study and make
recommendations to the legislature and the public regarding redistricting including past
redistricting proceedings, best redistricting practices established in other states, redistricting
tools and resources including digital map-drawing tools, redistricting algorithms, and other
technological resources, and proposed redistricting plans. Requires the committee to make
a report to the legislature no later than March 1, 2021 and dissolves the committee on Dec.
31, 2021.
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