HLS 21RS-251 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 257
BY REPRESENTATIVE FREIBERG
DISTRICTS/CRIME PREVENT: Creates the Plantation Trace Crime Prevention and
Improvement District in East Baton Rouge Parish
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 33:9097.33, relative to East Baton Rouge Parish, to create the Plantation Trace
3 Crime Prevention and Improvement District; to provide relative to the boundaries,
4 purpose, governance, and powers and duties of the district; to provide relative to
5 district funding, including the authority to impose a parcel fee within the district,
6 subject to voter approval; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related
7 matters.
8 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
9 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
10 Louisiana.
11Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
12 Section 1. R.S. 33:9097.33 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 ยง9097.33. Plantation Trace Crime Prevention and Improvement District
14 A. Creation. There is hereby created within the parish of East Baton Rouge,
15 as more specifically provided in Subsection B of this Section, a body politic and
16 corporate which shall be known as the Plantation Trace Crime Prevention and
17 Improvement District, referred to in this Section as the "district". The district shall
18 be a political subdivision of the state as defined in the Constitution of Louisiana.
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1 B. Boundaries. The district shall include the following areas: Lots X-1
2 through X-5 of the Robert McGill Tract, the W.P. Wray tract and all lots in
3 Plantation Trace Subdivision, except Lot 1.
4 C. The purpose of the district is to aid in crime prevention and to add to the
5 security of the district residents by providing for an increase in the presence of law
6 enforcement personnel in the district and to add to the overall betterment of the
7 district by providing for beautification and other improvements within the district,
8 including the construction of a neighborhood playground.
9 D. Governance. (1) The district shall be governed by a seven-member board
10 of commissioners, referred to in this Section as the "board". The board shall be
11 composed as follows:
12 (a) The president of the Plantation Trace Residents Association.
13 (b) The president of the Plantation Trace Residents Association shall appoint
14 three members.
15 (c) The member of the Louisiana House of Representatives whose district
16 encompasses all or the greater portion of the area of the district shall appoint one
17 member.
18 (d) The member of the governing authority of the city of Baton Rouge,
19 parish of East Baton Rouge whose district encompasses all or the greater portion of
20 the area of the district shall appoint one member.
21 (e) The assessor for the parish of East Baton Rouge shall appoint one
22 member.
23 (2)(a) Members appointed pursuant to Subparagraphs (1)(b) through (e) of
24 this Subsection shall serve three-year terms after initial terms as provided in
25 Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph.
26 (b) Two members shall serve an initial term of one year; two shall serve two
27 years; and two shall serve three years as determined by lot at the first meeting of the
28 board.
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1 (c) The member serving pursuant to Subparagraph (1)(a) of this Subsection
2 shall serve during his term of office.
3 (3) The board shall elect from its members a chairman, a vice chairman, a
4 secretary, a treasurer, and such other officers as it deems necessary. The duties of
5 the officers shall be fixed by the bylaws adopted by the board.
6 (4) The secretary of the board shall maintain the minute books and archives
7 of the district. The monies, funds, and accounts of the district shall be in the official
8 custody of the board.
9 (5) The board shall adopt such bylaws as it deems necessary or advisable for
10 conducting its business affairs. Rules and regulations of the board relative to the
11 notice and conduct of meetings shall conform to applicable law, including, if
12 applicable, the Open Meetings Law. The board shall hold regular meetings as
13 provided for in the bylaws and may hold special meetings at times and places within
14 the district as prescribed in the bylaws.
15 (6) A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the
16 transaction of business. The board shall keep minutes of all meetings and shall make
17 them available through the secretary of the board.
18 (7) The members of the board shall serve without compensation but shall be
19 reimbursed for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the
20 governance of the district.
21 E. Powers and duties. The district, acting through its board, shall have the
22 following powers and duties:
23 (1) To sue and be sued.
24 (2) To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.
25 (3) To receive and expend funds collected pursuant to Subsection F of this
26 Section and in accordance with a budget adopted as provided by Subsection H of this
27 Section.
28 (4) To enter into contracts with individuals or entities, private or public, for
29 the provision of security patrols, improvement, or other programs in the district.
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1 (5) To provide or enhance security patrols in the district; to provide for
2 improved lighting, signage, or matters relating to the security of the district; and to
3 provide for improvements in the district; and to provide generally for the overall
4 betterment of the district.
5 (6) To purchase, lease, rent, or otherwise acquire items, supplies, and
6 services necessary or deemed appropriate for achieving any purpose of the district.
7 (7) To acquire, lease, insure, and sell real property within the boundaries of
8 the district in accordance with district plans.
9 (8) To accept private grants and donations.
10 (9) To procure and maintain liability insurance against any personal or legal
11 liability of a board member that may be asserted or incurred based upon service as
12 a member of the board or that may arise as a result of actions taken within the scope
13 and discharge of duties as a member of the board.
14 F. Parcel fee. The district may impose and collect a parcel fee within the
15 district subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this Subsection.
16 (1) The fee shall be imposed by duly adopted resolution of the board. The
17 fee shall be a flat fee not to exceed three hundred dollars per parcel per year.
18 (2) The fee shall be imposed on each improved and unimproved parcel
19 located within the district. The owner of the parcel shall be responsible for payment
20 of the fee.
21 (3) For purposes of this Section, "parcel" means a lot, a subdivided portion
22 of ground, an individual tract, or a "condominium parcel" as defined in R.S.
23 9:1121.103.
24 (4) The fee shall be imposed only after its imposition has been approved by
25 a majority of the registered voters of the district voting on the proposition at an
26 election held for that purpose in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code.
27 (5) The term of the imposition of the fee shall be as provided in the
28 proposition authorizing the fee, not to exceed ten years. The fee may be renewed if
29 the renewal is approved by the voters in the manner provided in Paragraph (4) of this
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1 Subsection. If renewed, the term of the imposition of the fee shall be as provided in
2 the proposition authorizing such renewal, not to exceed ten years.
3 (6) The fee shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as ad
4 valorem taxes are collected for East Baton Rouge Parish. The tax collector shall
5 collect and remit to the district all amounts collected not more than sixty days after
6 collection; however, the district may enter into an agreement with the tax collector
7 to authorize the retention of an annual collection fee, not to exceed one percent of the
8 amount collected.
9 (7) Any parcel fee which is unpaid shall be added to the tax rolls of East
10 Baton Rouge Parish and shall be enforced with the same authority and subject to the
11 same penalties and procedures as unpaid ad valorem taxes.
12 G. Additional contributions. The district may solicit, accept, and expend
13 additional voluntary contributions and grants to carry out its purposes.
14 H. Budget. (1) The board shall adopt an annual budget in accordance with
15 the Louisiana Local Government Budget Act, R.S. 39:1301 et seq.
16 (2) The district shall be subject to audit by the legislative auditor pursuant
17 to R.S. 24:513.
18 I. Miscellaneous provisions. (1) It is the purpose and intent of this Section
19 that any additional law enforcement personnel and services provided for through the
20 fees authorized in this Section shall be supplemental to, and not in lieu of, personnel
21 and services to be provided in the district by publicly funded law enforcement
22 agencies.
23 (2) If the district ceases to exist, any funds of the district shall be transmitted
24 to the governing authority of the city of Baton Rouge, parish of East Baton Rouge
25 and shall be used for law enforcement purposes in the area which comprised the
26 district.
27 J. Indemnification and exculpation. (1) The district shall indemnify its
28 officers and board members to the fullest extent permitted by R.S. 12:227, as fully
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1 as if the district were a nonprofit corporation governed thereby, and as may be
2 provided in the district's bylaws.
3 (2) No board member or officer shall be liable to the district or to any
4 individual who resides, owns property, visits, or otherwise conducts business in the
5 district for monetary damages, for breach of his duties as a board member or officer,
6 provided that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a board
7 member or officer for any of the following:
8 (a) Acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
9 misconduct or a knowing violation of law.
10 (b) Any transaction from which he or she derived an improper personal
11 benefit.
12 (3) To the fullest extent permitted by R.S. 9:2792 et seq., including R.S.
13 9:2792.1 through 2792.9, a person serving the district as a board member or officer
14 shall not be individually liable for any act or omission arising out of the performance
15 of his duties.
16 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
17signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
18by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
19vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
20effective 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 257 Original 2021 Regular Session Freiberg
Abstract: Creates the Plantation Trace Crime Prevention and Improvement District in East
Baton Rouge Parish. Provides for the district's boundaries, purpose, governance, and
funding, including the authority to impose a parcel fee.
Proposed law creates the Plantation Trace Crime Prevention and Improvement District in
East Baton Rouge Parish as a political subdivision of the state for the purpose of aiding in
crime prevention and providing for the overall betterment of the district. Provides for
district boundaries. Provides that the district shall be governed by a seven-member board
of commissioners composed as follows:
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(1)The president of the Plantation Trace Residents Association (association).
(2)Three members appointed by the president of the association.
(3)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.
(4)One member appointed by the member of the governing authority of the city of
Baton Rouge, parish of East Baton Rouge whose district encompasses all or the
greater portion of the area of the district.
(5)One member appointed by the assessor for East Baton Rouge Parish.
Proposed law provides for the district's powers and duties including the following:
(1)To sue and be sued.
(2)To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.
(3)To receive and expend funds from an authorized parcel fee and in accordance with
an adopted budget.
(4)To enter into contracts with individuals or entities, private or public.
(5)To provide or enhance security patrols in the district and to provide for improved
lighting, signage, or matters relating to the security of the district.
Proposed law authorizes the district, subject to voter approval, to impose and collect a parcel
fee on each improved and unimproved parcel within the district. Provides that the amount
of the fee shall be in a duly adopted resolution of the board and shall not exceed $300 per
year.
Proposed law provides that the term of the fee expires at the time provided in the proposition
authorizing the fee, not to exceed 10 years, but authorizes renewal of the fee for a term not
to exceed 10 years, also subject to voter approval. Defines "parcel" as a lot, a subdivided
portion of ground, an individual tract, or a "condominium parcel" as defined in present law
(R.S. 9:1121.103).
Proposed law provides that the fee shall be collected in the same manner and at the same
time as ad valorem taxes and that any unpaid fee shall be added to the parish tax rolls and
enforced with the same authority and subject to the same penalties and procedures as unpaid
ad valorem taxes. Requires the tax collector to remit to the district all amounts collected not
more than 60 days after collection, and authorizes the district to enter into an agreement with
the tax collector to authorize the retention of a collection fee, not to exceed 1% of the
amount collected.
Proposed law requires the district's board to adopt an annual budget in accordance with the
La. Local Government Budget Act and provides that the district shall be subject to audit by
the legislative auditor.
Proposed law provides that it is the purpose and intent of proposed law that the additional
law enforcement personnel and their services provided for through the fees authorized by
proposed law shall be supplemental to, and not in lieu of, personnel and services provided
in the district by publicly funded law enforcement agencies.
Proposed law provides that if the district ceases to exist, all district funds shall be transmitted
to the city-parish to be used for law enforcement purposes in the area which comprised the
district.
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HB NO. 257
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 33:9097.33)
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