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 295 Original 2023 Regular Session Wilford Carter
Abstract: Provides relative to the powers and duties of the Lake Charles North Redevelopment
Authority.
Present law creates and provides for the Lake Charles North Redevelopment Authority to provide
for the utilization of appropriate private and public resources to eliminate and prevent the
development or spread of slum, blighted, and distressed areas. Provides that the authority is a special
district and political subdivision of the state. Provides that the authority shall be comprised of
specified territory in the city of Lake Charles. Provides that the authority is governed by a five-
member board of commissioners (board).
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that the authority, through the board, shall have all powers necessary or
convenient to carry out its objectives and purposes, including but not limited to the following:
(1)To sue and be sued and as such to stand in judgment.
(2)To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.
(3)To acquire, hold, and use any property. Provides that the authority shall not have any power
to expropriate, except that power which is granted by the appropriate governing authority.
(4)To convey to the U.S., the state, or to any political subdivision of the state any property or
other thing of value for use by the governmental entity, pursuant to the terms of any
appropriate cooperative endeavor agreement.
(5)To make and collect reasonable charges for the use of property of the authority and for
services rendered by the authority and to regulate fees or rentals charged for use of privately
owned facilities located on property owned or sold by the authority when such facilities are
offered for use by the public or by a private industrial, commercial, research, or other
economic development entity or activity.
(6)To require and issue licenses.
(7)To borrow money and to pledge or grant a security device affecting all or part of its revenues,
leases, rents, and other advantages as security for such loans. (8)To appoint officers, agents, and employees, prescribe their duties, and fix their
compensation.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that the authority shall have no power of taxation. Proposed law instead
authorizes the authority to levy a sales and use tax, subject to voter approval, and subject to the
approval of the Lake Charles City Council. Provides that the tax rate shall not to exceed 1%.
Requires that the tax be imposed and collected uniformly throughout the jurisdiction of the authority.
Provides that the tax shall be in addition to all other taxes other political subdivisions within the
boundaries of the authority are authorized to levy and collect. Provides that the authority has no
other power of taxation.
Present law provides that all actions of the board shall be approved by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the members present and voting. Provides however, that no action of the board shall be
authorized on the following matters unless approved by a majority of the total board membership:
(1)Adoption of bylaws and other rules and regulations for conduct of the authority's business.
(2)Hiring or firing of any employee or contractor of the authority. Provides that this function
may by majority vote be delegated by the board to a specified officer or committee of the
authority, under such terms and conditions, and to the extent, that the board may specify.
(3)The incurring of debt.
(4)Adoption or amendment of the annual budget.
(5)Sale, lease, encumbrance, or alienation of real property, improvements, or personal property
with an assessed value of more than $20,000.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally requires the approval of a majority of the total
board membership prior to the levy of a sales and use tax authorized by proposed law.
Present law additionally requires that certain specified actions or proposals of the authority,
including but not limited to the following, be submitted to the governing authority of the city of Lake
Charles and authorizes the governing authority to reject any such action or proposal upon two-thirds
vote of its membership:
(1)To adopt bylaws and other rules and regulations for conduct of the authority's business.
(2)To incur debt.
(3)To amend or adopt the annual budget.
(4)To acquire, sell, lease, encumber, or alienate real property, improvements, or personal property with an assessed value of more than $20,0000 twenty thousand dollars.
(5)To plan, develop, regulate, operate, and maintain activities and planned land uses to foster
creation of new jobs, economic development, industry, health care, general public and social
welfare, commerce, manufacturing, tourism, relocation of people and businesses to the area,
shipbuilding, aviation, military, warehousing, transportation, offices, recreation, housing
development, and conservation.
(6)To construct, operate, and maintain facilities, improvements, and infrastructure, including
buildings, roads, bridges, drainage, and utilities, and to perform other functions and activities
on property owned or leased by the authority.
(7)To undertake and carry out redevelopment projects and related activities.
Proposed law instead requires the board, prior to approval, to submit the action or proposal to the
Lake Charles City Council for review. Requires the council, within 30 days of receipt, to give a
written recommendation as to whether the board should approve the action or proposal. Requires
the board to review the recommendation, but authorizes the board to approve or reject the
recommendation.
Effective July 1, 2023.
(Amends R.S. 33:4720.191(G)(12)(intro para.) and (H)(21); Adds R.S. 33:4720.191(G)(9)(f))