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 815 Original 2022 Regular Session Jefferson
Abstract: Provides for the redistricting of the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education
(BESE) and provides for the composition of each of the eight BESE districts from which
members are elected. Effective for election purposes only for the regular BESE elections in
2023 and for all other purposes at noon on Jan. 8, 2024.
Statistical summaries of proposed law, including district variances from the ideal population
of 582,219 and the range of those variances, as well as maps illustrating proposed district
boundaries accompany this digest. (Attached to the bill version on the internet.)
Present constitution (Const. Art. VIII, ยง3(B)) provides that BESE is composed of 11 members, eight
of whom are elected from single-member districts and three of whom are appointed by the governor
from the state at large.
Proposed law redraws district boundaries for the eight BESE districts, effective upon signature of
governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action for purposes of the 2023 election.
Proposed law repeals Act No. 3 of the 2022 1st E.S. which redrew district boundaries for the eight
BESE districts.
Proposed law retains present districts until noon, Jan. 8, 2024, at which time present law is repealed
and proposed districts are effective for all other purposes.
Proposed law specifies that precincts referenced in district descriptions are those precincts identified
as Voting Districts (VTDs) in the 2020 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line Shapefiles for the state
of La. as validated through the data verification program of the La. legislature. Also specifies that
if any such precinct has been subdivided by action of the parish governing authority on a
nongeographic basis or subdivided by action of the parish governing authority on a geographic basis
in accordance with present law, the enumeration of the general precinct designation shall include all
nongeographic and all geographic subdivisions thereof. Further provides that the territorial limits
of the districts as enacted shall continue in effect until changed by law regardless of any subsequent
change made to the precincts by the parish governing authority.
Population data in the summaries accompanying this digest are derived from 2020 Census
Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171), Summary File for Louisiana. Population data, statistical
information, and maps are supplied for purposes of information and analysis and comprise no part
of proposed law. Effective for election purposes only for the regular BESE elections in 2023; effective for all other
purposes at noon, Jan. 8, 2024.
(Adds R.S. 17:2.2; Repeals R.S. 17:2.1 and Act No. 3 of 2022 1st E.S.)