HLS 24RS-207 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 295
BY REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON
DISTRICTS/ECONOMIC DEVEL: Creates the Shreveport I-20 Economic Development
District
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 33:2740.70.6, relative to the city of Shreveport; to create the Shreveport I-20
3 Economic Development District; to provide relative to the boundaries, purpose,
4 governance, and powers and duties of the district; and to provide for related matters.
5 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
6 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
7 Louisiana.
8Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 33:2740.70.6 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 ยง2740.70.6. Shreveport I-20 Economic Development District
11 A. There is hereby created within the city of Shreveport, as more specifically
12 provided in Subsection B of this Section, a body politic and corporate which shall
13 be known as the Shreveport I-20 Economic Development District, referred to in this
14 Section as the "district". The district shall be a political subdivision of the state as
15 defined in the Constitution of Louisiana.
16 B. The boundaries of the district shall include the area with the following
17 perimeter: Begin at the intersection of the southwesterly right-of-way line of
18 Common Street with the north right-of-way line of Lake Street and a point on the
19 northwesterly right-of-way line of Kansas City Railroad; Run thence Southeasterly
20 along said southwesterly right-of-way line of Common Street to the south
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1 right-of-way line of Stoner Avenue; Run thence West along said south right-of-way
2 line of Stoner Avenue and Murphy Street to the easterly right-of-way line of Texas
3 Avenue; Run thence Southwesterly along said easterly right-of-way line of Texas
4 Avenue to the east right-of-way line of Sestin Street; Run thence South along said
5 east right-of-way line of Sestin Street to the north right-of-way line of the Kansas
6 City Railroad; Run thence West along said north right-of-way line of Kansas City
7 Railroad to the east right-of-way line of Park Avenue; Run thence North along said
8 east right-of-way line of Park Avenue to the southeasterly right-of-way line of I-20;
9 Run thence Northeasterly along said southeasterly right-of-way line of I-20 to the
10 westerly right-of-way line of Linwood Avenue; Run thence Southeasterly along said
11 westerly right-of-way line of Linwood Avenue to the northerly right-of-way line of
12 Texas Avenue; Run thence Northwesterly along the northerly and westerly
13 right-of-way line of Texas Avenue to the northeasterly right-of-way line of Hope
14 Street; Run thence Southeasterly along said northeasterly right-of-way line of Hope
15 Street to the northwesterly right-of-way line of Kansas City Railroad; Run thence
16 Northeasterly along said northwesterly right-of-way line of Kansas City Railroad to
17 the Point of Beginning.
18 C. The district is created to provide for cooperative economic and
19 community development among the district, the city, the state, and the owners of
20 property in the district, to enhance the development of and improvement to the
21 property within the area of the district, to develop stable and more extensive
22 employment opportunities, to improve infrastructure, and to promote the overall
23 welfare of the citizens of the district.
24 D.(1) In order to provide for the orderly development of the district and
25 effect the purposes of the district, the district shall be administered and governed by
26 a seven-member board of commissioners, referred to in this Section as the "board",
27 composed as follows:
28 (a) The member of the Louisiana Senate whose district encompasses all or
29 the greater portion of the area of the district shall appoint two members.
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1 (b) The member of the Louisiana House of Representatives whose district
2 encompasses all or the greater portion of the area of the district shall appoint two
3 members.
4 (c) The governing board of the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
5 shall appoint one member who is a member of the chamber of commerce.
6 (d) The governing board of the Shreveport-Bossier African American
7 Chamber of Commerce shall appoint one member who is a member of the chamber
8 of commerce.
9 (e) The mayor of the city of Shreveport or his designee.
10 (2)(a) Members appointed pursuant to Subparagraphs (1)(a) through (d) of
11 this Subsection shall serve three-year terms after serving initial terms as provided in
12 this Subparagraph. Two members shall serve one-year initial terms, two members
13 shall serve two-year initial terms, and two members shall serve three-year initial
14 terms as determined by lot at the first meeting of the board.
15 (b) The member serving pursuant to Subparagraph (1)(e) of this Subsection
16 shall serve during his term of office. Any designee serving on the board shall serve
17 at the pleasure of the designating authority.
18 (3) Any vacancy which occurs prior to the expiration of the term for which
19 a member of the board has been appointed shall be filled by appointment in the same
20 manner as the original appointment for the unexpired term.
21 (4) The board shall elect from its members a chairman, a vice chairman, a
22 secretary-treasurer, and other officers as it deems necessary. The duties of the
23 officers shall be fixed by the bylaws adopted by the board.
24 (5) The minute books and archives of the district shall be maintained by the
25 secretary-treasurer of the board. The monies, funds, and accounts of the district shall
26 be in the official custody of the board.
27 (6) The board shall adopt rules and regulations as it deems necessary or
28 advisable for conducting its business affairs. Rules and regulations of the board
29 relative to the notice and conduct of meetings shall conform to applicable law. The
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1 board shall hold regular meetings as provided for in the bylaws and may hold special
2 meetings at such times and places within the district as prescribed in the bylaws.
3 (7) A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the
4 transaction of business. The board shall keep minutes of all meetings and shall make
5 them available through the secretary-treasurer of the board.
6 (8) The members of the board shall serve without compensation but shall be
7 reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the governance
8 of the district.
9 E. The district, acting by and through its board, shall have and exercise all
10 powers of a political subdivision necessary or convenient for carrying out its objects
11 and purposes, including but not limited to the following:
12 (1) To sue and be sued.
13 (2) To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.
14 (3) To acquire by gift, grant, purchase, or lease all property, including rights-
15 of-way; to hold and use any franchise or property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible
16 or intangible, or any interest therein, necessary or desirable for carrying out the
17 objects and purposes of the district.
18 (4) To receive by gift, grant, or donation, any sum of money, or property,
19 aid, or assistance from the United States, the state of Louisiana, or any political
20 subdivision thereof, or any person, firm, or corporation.
21 (5) To enter into contracts for the purchase, lease, acquisition, construction,
22 and improvement of works and facilities necessary in connection with the purposes
23 of the district and to mortgage its properties and enter into leases and other
24 agreements on terms the board approves.
25 (6) To require and issue licenses with respect to properties and facilities
26 owned by the district.
27 (7) To regulate the imposition of fees and rentals charged by the district for
28 facilities owned and services rendered by it and to impose fees on the use or
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1 occupancy of any other property within but not owned by the district with the
2 consent of the owner of such property.
3 (8) To appoint officers, agents, and employees, prescribe their duties, and fix
4 their compensation.
5 (9) To enter into cooperative endeavor agreements with any other party,
6 public or private, to accomplish the purposes of this Subpart.
7 F.(1) The board shall prepare or cause to be prepared a plan or plans
8 specifying the public improvements, facilities, and services proposed to be furnished,
9 constructed, or acquired for the district and shall conduct public hearings, publish
10 notice with respect thereto, and disseminate information as it, in the exercise of its
11 sound discretion, deems appropriate or advisable and in the public interest.
12 (2) Any plan may specify and encompass any public services, capital
13 improvements, and facilities which the city of Shreveport is authorized to undertake,
14 furnish, or provide under the constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, and the
15 specified public services, improvements, and facilities shall be special and in
16 addition to all services, improvements, and facilities which the city is then furnishing
17 or providing or may then or in the future be obligated to furnish or provide within the
18 district.
19 (3) Any plan shall include an estimate of the annual and total cost of
20 acquiring, constructing, or providing the services, improvements, or facilities set
21 forth therein.
22 G. Budget. (1) The board shall adopt an annual budget in accordance with
23 the Louisiana Local Government Budget Act, R.S. 39:1301 et seq.
24 (2) The district shall be subject to audit by the legislative auditor pursuant
25 to R.S. 24:513.
26 H. All state officers and agencies are authorized at their discretion to render
27 such services to the district within their respective functions as may be requested by
28 the district. In addition, the district and such agencies are authorized to enter into
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1 such contracts, cooperative endeavor agreements, or other agreements necessary or
2 convenient to carry out the purposes of this Section.
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 2024 Regular Session Jackson
Abstract: Creates the Shreveport I-20 Economic Development District as a political
subdivision of the state to provide for cooperative economic development within the
district.
Proposed law creates the Shreveport I-20 Economic Development District as a political
subdivision of the state to provide for cooperative economic development within the district.
Proposed law provides that the district is governed by a seven-member board of
commissioners composed as follows:
(1)Two members appointed by the member of the La. Senate whose district
encompasses all or the greater portion of the area of the district.
(2)Two members appointed by the member of the La. House of Rep. whose district
encompasses all or the greater portion of the area of the district.
(3)One member appointed by the governing board of the Greater Shreveport Chamber
of Commerce.
(4)One member appointed by the governing board of the Shreveport-Bossier African
American Chamber of Commerce.
(5)The mayor of the city of Shreveport or his designee.
Provides that appointed members serve staggered three-year terms.
Provides relative to the powers and duties of the district, including the following:
(1)To sue and be sued.
(2)To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.
(3)To acquire by gift, grant, purchase, or lease, all property, including servitudes or
rights-of-way.
(4)To receive by gift, grant, or donation, any sum of money, or property, aid, or
assistance from the U.S., the state of La., or any political subdivision thereof, or any
person, firm, or corporation.
(5)To enter into contracts for the purchase, lease, acquisition, construction,
maintenance, and improvement of works and facilities necessary in connection with
the purposes of the district.
(6)To regulate the imposition of fees and rentals charged by the district for its facilities
and for services rendered by it.
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(7)To appoint officers, agents, and employees, prescribe their duties, and fix their
compensation.
Proposed law requires the board to prepare a plan(s) specifying public improvements,
facilities, and services proposed to be furnished, constructed, or acquired which may be
improvements, facilities, and services the town is authorized to provide pursuant to the
constitution and laws of the state.
Proposed law requires the board to conduct hearings and disseminate information as it deems
appropriate or advisable. Requires that any plan developed by the board include an estimate
of the annual and total cost of acquiring, constructing, or providing the services,
improvements, or facilities.
Proposed law authorizes all state officers and agencies to render services to the district
within their respective functions as may be requested by the district. Additionally authorizes
the district and the agencies to enter into contracts, cooperative endeavor agreements, or
other agreements necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of proposed law.
(Adds R.S. 33:2740.70.6)
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