ENROLLED
ACT No. 152
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 105
BY REPRESENTATIVE PRESSLY AND SENATORS MILLIGAN AND PEACOCK
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 34:3159(B) and 3160(C) and to repeal R.S. 34:3522, relative to
3 the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission; to provide for the rights and powers
4 of the commission; to authorize the commission to perform the functions of an
5 economic and industrial development entity; and to provide for related matters.
6 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
7 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
8 Louisiana.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 34:3159(B) and 3160(C) are hereby amended and reenacted to read
11 as follows:
12 §3159. Officers of the boards; meetings; quorum
13 A.
14 * * *
15 B.(1) The commission shall meet once each month in regular session and
16 shall also meet in special session at the call of the president of the commission or on
17 the written request of three members of the commission. A majority of the members
18 of the commission shall constitute a quorum, and all actions or resolutions of the
19 commission must be approved by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of
20 all members of the commission. The commission shall prescribe rules governing its
21 meetings and shall fix a place at which the meetings shall be held.
22 (2) In addition to the requirements governing regular and special meetings
23 delineated in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the commission shall hold a specially
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1 called annual meeting to fully advise the public of projects located in the port area
2 that may affect adjacent landowners.
3 §3160. Rights and powers of commission
4 * * *
5 C.(1) The commission shall regulate the commerce and traffic within the
6 port area in such a any manner as may, in its judgment, be for the best interests of
7 the state. It shall not be subject in any respect to the authority, control, or
8 supervision of any local regulatory body or any political subdivision. It shall have
9 charge of and administer public wharves, docks, sheds, landings, industrial parks,
10 industrial buildings, and other property or facilities owned, operated, or controlled
11 by the commission. It shall have authority to construct or acquire and equip wharves
12 and landings and other structures useful for the commerce of the port area, and
13 provide mechanical facilities therefor; to erect sheds or other structures on said the
14 wharves and landings; to provide light, water, police protection, and other services
15 for its facilities as it may deem advisable; to construct or acquire, maintain and
16 operate basins, locks, canals, warehouses, and elevators; to charge for the use of all
17 facilities administered by it, and for all services rendered by it; to establish such fees,
18 rates, tariffs, or other charges as it may deem fit; to establish harbor lines within the
19 port area by agreement with the United States Army Corps of Engineers; and to
20 construct, own, operate, and maintain terminal rail facilities and other common
21 carrier rail facilities for the purpose of rendering rail transportation to and from the
22 facilities to be erected, owned, or operated by the commission in both intrastate and
23 interstate commerce. The commission shall have authority to plan, finance, develop,
24 construct, and/or and acquire industrial parks and/or and industrial plant buildings
25 within its port area, including sites and other necessary property or appurtenances
26 therefor, and to acquire, construct, develop, improve, operate, maintain, and provide
27 improvements and services necessary therefor, including but not limited to roads,
28 streets, street lighting, bridges, rail facilities, drainage, sewers, sewerage disposal
29 facilities, solid waste disposal facilities, waterworks and other utilities and related
30 properties. Title to such property and improvements shall be in the public and shall
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1 vest in the commission for public administration, subject only to the right of the
2 commission to lease, sell or otherwise dispose of the same in the manner provided
3 in this Chapter.
4 (2) In addition to any other powers and functions, the commission may
5 perform the functions of an economic and industrial development entity. Such
6 functions may include but shall not be limited to the following:
7 (a) Public relations, advertising, marketing, and providing and disseminating
8 information.
9 (b) Government relations, ombudsman, and government liaison.
10 (c) Financial and financing assistance.
11 (d) Tax abatement.
12 (e) Planning and coordination for economic development and resource
13 utilization, including such functions as industrial and economic research and
14 industrial programming and solicitation.
15 (f) Industrial training, technical assistance, and technology transfer.
16 (g) The use of public and other legal powers to facilitate development.
17 (h) Promoting transfer mechanisms to take ideas from their point of origin
18 and development to commercially successful utilization by local enterprises.
19 (i) Fostering entrepreneurial activity in the port area.
20 (j) Promoting the development of new products, processes, or services or
21 new uses for existing products, processes, or services manufactured or marketed in
22 the port area.
23 (k) Supporting market research aimed at identifying new markets for local
24 or regional products and processes, including international markets; determining the
25 characteristics, needs, and preferences of those markets; and developing new
26 marketing techniques to exploit those markets.
27 (l) Fostering and supporting economic industrial development and education
28 in cooperation with private business enterprises, financial institutions, educational
29 institutions, nonprofit institutions and organizations, state government and political
30 subdivisions of the state, the federal government, and other organizations or persons
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1 concerned with research, development, education, commercial application, and
2 economic or industrial development in ways which increase the economic base of the
3 port area.
4 (3) For the purposes of Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, the commission
5 may engage in activities and projects it deems most appropriate to encourage and
6 assist economic growth and development in the port area. However, the selection
7 of utility service providers shall be subject to the provisions of R.S. 33:4160.1 and
8 4160.2, R.S. 45:123, and all applicable orders of the Louisiana Public Service
9 Commission for facilities constructed or acquired by the commission.
10 * * *
11 Section 2. R.S. 34:3522 is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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