2020 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 421
BY SENATOR PEACOCK
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 34:3522, relative to certain port commissions; to provide for the rights and
3 powers of such commissions; to provide for functions relative to economic and
4 industrial growth; to authorize the acquisition and operation of air cargo airports; and
5 to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 34:3522 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง3522. Rights and powers for economic and industrial growth
9 A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a
10 commission of a port, other than a deep water port, with a population of not less
11 than two hundred fifty thousand and not more than four hundred thousand
12 within its jurisdiction may perform the following functions but shall not be
13 limited to:
14 (1) Public relations, advertising, marketing, and providing and
15 disseminating information.
16 (2) Government relations, ombudsman, and government liaison.
17 (3) Financial and financing assistance.
18 (4) Tax abatement.
19 (5) Planning and coordination for economic development and resource
20 utilization, including such functions as industrial and economic research and
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1 industrial programming and solicitation.
2 (6) Industrial training, technical assistance, and technology transfer.
3 (7) Using public and other legal powers to facilitate development.
4 (8) Promoting transfer mechanisms to take ideas from the point of origin
5 and development to commercially successful utilization by local enterprise.
6 (9) Fostering entrepreneurial activity in the port area.
7 (10) Promoting the development of new products, processes, or services
8 or new uses for existing products, processes, or services manufactured or
9 marketed in the port area.
10 (11) Supporting market research aimed at identifying new markets for
11 local or regional products and processes, including international markets,
12 determining the characteristics, needs, and preferences of those markets, and
13 developing new marketing techniques to exploit those markets.
14 (12) Fostering and supporting economic industrial development and
15 education in cooperation with private business enterprises, financial
16 institutions, educational institutions, nonprofit institutions and organizations,
17 state government and political subdivisions of the state, the federal government,
18 and other organizations or persons concerned with research, development,
19 education, commercial application, and economic or industrial development in
20 ways which increase the economic base of the port area.
21 (13) Acquiring and operating air cargo airports within its territorial
22 jurisdiction together with all property and facilities located therein, and any
23 land as the commission may deem necessary for the present and future
24 operations of such air cargo airports.
25 B. For the purposes enumerated in Subsection A of this Section, the
26 commission may engage in any activities and projects it deems most appropriate
27 to encourage and assist economic growth and development in the port area.
28 C. In furtherance of the rights and powers enumerated in Subsections
29 A and B of this Section, the commission shall not be subject in any respect to the
30 authority, control, or supervision of any parish or municipal regulatory body.
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1 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
2 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
3 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
4 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
5 effective on the day following such approval.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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