The original instrument was prepared by Xavier Alexander. The following digest,
which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was prepared by Cheryl
M. Serrett.
DIGEST
SB 7 Reengrossed 2020 Second Extraordinary Session Hewitt
Present law established a 15-member board of commissioners for the La. International Deep Water
Gulf Transfer Terminal Authority, consisting of the secretary of the Dept. of Economic Development
and the secretary of the Dept. of Transportation and Development, the chairman of the House and
Senate committees on transportation, highways, and public works or their designees and 11
commissioners to be appointed by the governor.
Proposed law reduces the membership of the board from 15 to 9 and removes the chairmen of the
House and Senate committees on transportation, highways, and public works and reduces the number
of members appointed by the governor to seven.
Present law requires the commissioners be chosen as follows: one member selected from a list of
three nominees submitted by the Ports Association of La.; one member selected from a list of three
nominees submitted by the La. Association of Business and Industry; one member selected from a
list of three nominees submitted by the La. Maritime Association; one member selected from a list
of three nominees submitted by the La. River Pilots' Association; two members at-large; one member
appointed by the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations; one member
selected from a list of three nominees submitted by the president of the Senate; one member selected
from a list of three nominees submitted by the speaker of the House of Representatives; one member
selected from a list of three nominees who are residents of Plaquemines Parish, submitted jointly by
the chief executive officer and the governing authority of Plaquemines Parish; and one member
selected by the N.O. Public Belt Railway and appointed by the governor, who must be a nonvoting
member.
Proposed law reduces the member at-large appointments from two to one.
Proposed law removes the member from the House that is selected from a list of three names
submitted by the speaker of the House of Representatives and removes the member from the Senate
that is selected from a list of three nominees submitted by the president of the Senate.
Proposed law adds one member to be selected by the president of the Louisiana Senate, whose term
shall run concurrent with the president's term in office and one member to be selected by the speaker
of the Louisiana House of Representatives, whose term shall run concurrent with the speaker's term
in office. The member selected by the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House shall be
a member of either the St. Bernard or Plaquemines legislative delegation.
Proposed law removes the member selected from a list of three names submitted jointly by the chief
executive officer and the governing authority of Plaquemines Parish. Proposed law removes the member selected by the N.O. Public Belt Railway who is appointed by
the governor.
Proposed law removes the member that is selected from a list of three names submitted by the La.
Maritime Association and the member that is selected from a list of three names submitted by the
La. River Pilots Association, and adds that one member shall be selected from a list of two
nominees, with one nominee being submitted by both the La. River Pilots' Association and the La.
Maritime Association.
Present law specifies that the commissioners appointed are appointed for terms of six years and that
no commissioner can serve more than two consecutive terms.
Present law requires the board of commissioners to seek the approval of the House and Senate
committees on transportation, highways, and public works and the Joint Legislative Committee on
the Budget prior to the adoption of any rule or regulation for the maintenance and operation of the
authority.
Proposed law removes present law.
Present law requires the board of commissioners to elect a president, two vice-presidents, a secretary,
and a treasurer from among the members of the board.
Proposed law reduces the number of vice-presidents to be elected from two to one.
Present law specifies that all matters to be acted upon by the board of commissioners or the
executive board require the affirmative vote of a majority of the board, with the exception that the
affirmative vote of not less than 10 commissioners is required to select the executive director.
Proposed law changes present law by requiring the affirmative vote of a majority of the board and
reduces the number of affirmative votes of commissioners to select the executive director from 10
to 6.
Present law requires the board to make an annual report to the governor, the House and Senate
committees on transportation, highways, and public works, and the Joint Legislative Committee on
the Budget.
Proposed law removes the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget from the entities to which the
board must make an annual report. Proposed law further provides that the annual report shall be
submitted not later than February 1st of each year and that the report shall include a summary of the
authority's progress, future plans for the authority's development program and financial report.
Provides that terms of the current members of the board shall not be altered by proposed law.
Effective upon signature of the governor or, if not signed by the governor, upon expiration of the
time for bills to become law without signature by the governor. (Amends R.S. 34:3494(A) and (B), 3495(A),(C), and (G), and 3496(A))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways, and
Public Works to the original bill
1. Provides that one member shall be selected by the president of the Louisiana Senate
and one member shall be selected by the speaker of the Louisiana House of
Representatives.
2. Removes members from Plaquemines and St. Bernard legislative delegation.
3. Changes the consecutive terms a commissioner may serve from three to two.
4. Provides date for annual report to be filed.
5. Provides for effective date upon signature of governor.
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill
1. Makes technical corrections.
2. Requires the members appointed by the president of the Senate and speaker of the
House be members of the St. Bernard or Plaquemines legislative delegation.