HLS 24RS-367 REENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 398
BY REPRESENTATIVE HILFERTY
LAW ENFORCEMENT: Provides relative to the authority of New Orleans City Park Police
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 33:4558.1, relative to the New Orleans City Park Police; to provide for the
3 authority, duties, commissioning, and training of the New Orleans City Park Police;
4 to provide for the administration of the New Orleans City Park Police; and to provide
5 for related matters.
6 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
7 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
8 Louisiana.
9Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 33:4558.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 ยง4558.1. Authority of New Orleans City Park Police
12 A.(1) Those persons who are employed as officers by New Orleans City Park
13 or a nonprofit manager of New Orleans City Park and are responsible for
14 maintaining general order and exercising police power within the jurisdiction of New
15 Orleans City Park shall be designated as City Park police officers.
16 (2) Each person named as a police officer by the president and chief
17 executive officer of City Park shall be commissioned as a City Park police officer
18 by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections or as provided in Subsection F
19 of this Section. The commission shall remain in force and in effect at the pleasure
20 of City Park Conservancy or the nonprofit manager of New Orleans City Park.
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1 (3) While in or out of uniform, the police officers shall have the right to
2 carry concealed weapons and to exercise the power of arrest when discharging their
3 duties within the grounds and jurisdiction of New Orleans City Park and on all
4 streets, roads, and rights-of-way to the extent they are within or contiguous to the
5 perimeter of City Park. In the discharge of their duties on City Park grounds and
6 while in pursuit on City Park grounds, each City Park police officer may exercise the
7 power of arrest.
8 (4) Each City Park police officer shall execute a bond in the amount of ten
9 thousand dollars in favor of the state for the faithful performance of their duties. The
10 premium on the bond shall be paid by City Park.
11 B. Any person arrested by a City Park police officer, in the exercise of the
12 power granted pursuant to Paragraph (A)(3) of this Section, shall be immediately
13 transferred by the officer to the custody of the Orleans Parish Sheriff.
14 C. All fines and fees generated through the enforcement of New Orleans City
15 Park rules shall be retained by City Park or the non-profit manager of New Orleans
16 City Park.
17 D. Any person commissioned as a City Park police officer shall meet all
18 training requirements of a peace officer as defined in R.S. 40:2402(3)(a).
19 E. Upon authorization by the chief executive officer of New Orleans City
20 Park, a City Park police officer shall have authority to discharge his duties off New
21 Orleans City Park grounds as follows:
22 (1) When transporting an arrested person in furtherance of duties as set forth
23 in this Section.
24 (2) When transporting money, securities, or other valuables on behalf of
25 New Orleans City Park.
26 (3) When engaging in intelligence gathering related to performance of duties.
27 (4) When investigating a crime committed on City Park grounds.
28 (5) While providing security or protective services for visiting dignitaries,
29 honored guests or executives on or off City Park grounds.
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1 F. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Section to the contrary, City
2 Park police officers may also be commissioned by the city's police department, rather
3 than the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, upon complying with the
4 requirements and regulations as may be prescribed by the city's police department
5 for the commissioning of special officers. Any commissions issued by the city's
6 police department shall confer upon such City Park police officers all rights and
7 privileges as are enumerated in this Section with respect to officers commissioned
8 through and by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections; provided that such
9 officers shall not be entitled to supplemental pay for municipal police officers.
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 398 Reengrossed 2024 Regular Session Hilferty
Abstract: Provides relative to the powers and duties of persons employed as officers by
New Orleans City Park or a non profit manager of the park.
Proposed law provides that persons who are employed as officers by New Orleans City Park
or a nonprofit manager of the park and are responsible for maintaining general order and
exercising police power within the jurisdiction of the park shall be designated as City Park
police officers.
Proposed law provides that each person named as a police officer by the president and chief
executive officer of City Park shall be commissioned as a City Park police officer by the
Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections. Provides further that City Park police officers may
also be commissioned by the New Orleans Police Dept. Requires such officers to receive
applicable training in accordance with the Peace Officers Standards and Training law.
Proposed law provides that City Park police officers shall have the right to carry concealed
weapons and to exercise the power of arrest within the grounds and jurisdiction of the park
and on all streets, roads, and rights-of-way to the extent they are within or contiguous to the
perimeter of the park.
Proposed law requires each City Park police officer to execute a bond in the amount of
$10,000 in favor of the state for the faithful performance of his duties and further requires
that the premium on the bond be paid by the park.
Proposed law provides that all fines and fees generated through the enforcement of park
rules shall be retained by the park or the non-profit manager of the park.
Proposed law provides that a City Park police officer may, if authorized by the chief
executive officer of the park, discharge his duties off the grounds of the park as follows:
(1)When transporting an arrested person in furtherance of his duties.
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(2)When transporting money, securities, or other valuables on behalf of the park.
(3)When engaging in intelligence gathering related to the performance of duties.
(4)When investigating a crime committed on park grounds.
(5)While providing security or protective services for visiting dignitaries, honored
guests or executives on or off park grounds.
(Adds R.S. 33:4558.1)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Remove provisions that require persons employed as full-time City Park police
officers to complete a sexual assault awareness training program as provided by
the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training pursuant to present law.
2. Add provisions that require any person commissioned as a City Park police
officer to meet all training requirements of a peace officer as defined in present
law.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.