SLS 23RS-73 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 13
BY SENATORS PEACOCK, CORTEZ, PRICE, FIELDS, ROBERT MILLS, MIZELL
AND TALBOT
COMMENDAT IONS. Commends retiring LASERS Executive Director Cindy Rougeou
for her career of public service.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To commend Cynthia "Cindy" Young Rougeou for her career of public service and to
3 congratulate her upon her retirement.
4 WHEREAS, it was with a sense of loss and disbelief that the Legislature of Louisiana
5 learned of Cynthia "Cindy" Young Rougeou's decision to retire from her position as
6 executive director of the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System at the end of this
7 fiscal year after three decades of distinguished service to the state of Louisiana; and
8 WHEREAS, Cindy has served in all three branches of Louisiana state government;
9 before becoming assistant director and later deputy director at LASERS, she was an assistant
10 attorney general, an attorney for the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs,
11 the deputy director and chief legal counsel for Louisiana Public Broadcasting, and
12 undersecretary for management and finance for the Louisiana Department of State; and
13 WHEREAS, in 2006, Cindy was tapped by the LASERS board of directors to captain
14 what is today a thirteen-billion-dollar retirement system, disbursing annual benefits of over
15 a billion dollars earned by nearly one hundred thousand current and former public servants
16 in Louisiana; and
17 WHEREAS, Cindy has selflessly shared her knowledge and experience with others
18 through participation in many associations and boards; she is a past president of the National
Page 1 of 3 SCR NO. 13
SLS 23RS-73 ORIGINAL
1 Association of State Retirement Administrators (NASRA) and of the Louisiana Association
2 of Public Employees' Retirement Systems (LAPERS) and currently chairs the La Capitol
3 Federal Credit Union Board of Directors; and
4 WHEREAS, in 2013, Cindy received the Civil Service League's Monte M. Lemann
5 Award, recognizing her commitment to the advancement of the principles of the merit
6 system of public employment throughout Louisiana; and
7 WHEREAS, Cindy was named one of the 2019 Distinguished Alumni of McNeese
8 State University, where she established a history scholarship through the McNeese
9 Foundation; and
10 WHEREAS, during her tenure as executive director, Cindy oversaw the development
11 and launch of online access for members, providing information about their accounts and
12 membership histories and offering a benefit calculator to assist in planning for retirement;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, under Cindy's leadership, LASERS has implemented significant reforms
15 to the retirement system; legislative enactments since 2010 are expected to produce over
16 three billion dollars in cost savings and have directed an additional half-billion dollars of
17 investment gains to reduce the unfunded accrued liability; and
18 WHEREAS, espousing the belief that ensuring a sustainable, financially sound
19 retirement system serves both LASERS members and the public as a whole, Cindy leads by
20 example, striving to embody LASERS' stated mission of providing a sound retirement plan
21 for LASERS members through prudent management and exceptional service; and
22 WHEREAS, Cindy's tenacity in championing the issues that affect LASERS
23 members, retirees, and their loved ones is well known; she is the quintessential fiduciary,
24 acting in the sole interest of LASERS members and beneficiaries for the exclusive purpose
25 of providing benefits and administering the system; and
26 WHEREAS, having faithfully safeguarded the post-employment security of so many
27 of her fellow Louisianians, Cindy will now be able to enjoy her own well-deserved
28 retirement drinking Diet Dr. Pepper, watching football, working in her yard, savoring
29 Louisiana seafood, and spending time in the company of her family and friends.
30 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
Page 2 of 3 SCR NO. 13
SLS 23RS-73 ORIGINAL
1 congratulate Cindy Rougeou upon her retirement from LASERS, does commend her for a
2 long and distinguished career in service to others, does recognize and record for posterity
3 her many laudable achievements, and offers heartfelt wishes for success in all her future
4 endeavors and health and happiness in the years to come.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
6 Cindy Rougeou.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by the many LASERS members
who serve the Senate.
DIGEST
SCR 13 Original 2023 Regular Session Peacock
Commends LASERS Executive Director Cindy Rougeou upon her retirement.
Page 3 of 3