HLS 24RS-261 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 401
BY REPRESENTATIVE ZERINGUE
POLICE/LOCAL: Provides for the creation of Houma-Terrebonne airport police
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 2:604.3, relative to the Houma-Terrebonne airport police; to provide for the
3 creation of the Houma-Terrebonne airport police; to provide for the appointment of
4 police officers; to authorize the airport police to make arrests and surrender those
5 arrested to the sheriff of Terrebonne; to provide for the commission to regulate the
6 police; and to provide for related matters.
7 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
8 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
9 Louisiana.
10Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. R.S. 2:604.3 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 ยง604.3. Houma-Terrebonne airport police
13 A. The Houma-Terrebonne airport commission may, in its discretion,
14 appoint, fix salaries of, and pay airport police; said police to consist of any number
15 of people of good character and citizens of the state, not under twenty-one years of
16 age.
17 B. The airport police shall have, under the direction and control of the
18 commission, the same power to make arrests, in and upon the property within the
19 jurisdiction of the commission, and approaches thereto, and to execute and return all
20 criminal warrants and processes, as sheriffs of this state have, and shall under the
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HB NO. 401
1 same direction and authority, have all the powers of sheriffs as peace officers in all
2 places and on all premises under the jurisdiction and control of the commission, and
3 the streets and approaches thereto.
4 C. Any persons arrested by officers of the commission and the return of all
5 warrants or processes served by said officers shall be forthwith surrendered or
6 delivered to the criminal sheriff of the parish of Terrebonne; provided this shall in
7 no way deprive the sheriff or deputy sheriff in the parish of Terrebonne, or chief of
8 the Houma police department or any Houma police officers from making arrests or
9 from serving warrants or process of court in any such place or on any such premises.
10 D. The commission shall make rules and regulations for the conduct,
11 management, and control of the police, and shall, from time to time, enlarge, modify,
12 or change such rules and regulations in its discretion. All ordinances enacted by the
13 commissioners, acting as the governing authority of the commission, concerning the
14 territory, jurisdiction, and control of the airport area, and the proper conduct thereof,
15 shall be enforceable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars or imprisonment not
16 to exceed six months in the parish jail, or both, in the discretion of the court. The
17 commission shall by proper ordinances make rules and regulations for the conduct,
18 management, and control of the port, its commerce, traffic and navigation, and the
19 waters and landings within its territorial jurisdiction, the structures and other
20 facilities under its administration, and for the government thereof, which the
21 commission may, in its judgment, find to be necessary or proper in the exercise of
22 the powers now conferred upon it by the constitution and statutes of the state of
23 Louisiana, and shall, from time to time, enlarge, modify, or change such rules and
24 regulations in its discretion. By such ordinances the commission may, without
25 limitation of such powers granted by this Section, adopt such rules and regulations
26 with respect to the safety and efficiency of airport operations, the protection of
27 property, life and personal safety, and welfare of its employees and of the public; the
28 control, use and protection of the hangars, warehouses, equipment, and other
29 facilities and improvements and appurtenances thereto, under its administration; the
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HB NO. 401
1 loading, unloading, transfer or transshipment of cargoes from, to or between all
2 aircraft and other vehicles within its jurisdiction; the prevention of interference with
3 and the obstruction of facilities and services necessary or related to the orderly and
4 efficient handling of the commerce and traffic of the airport; the protection, removal,
5 and disposition of cargoes; and generally, with respect to the safety and efficiency
6 of the operations of the airport. The criminal district court for the parish of
7 Terrebonne shall have jurisdiction of the trial and punishment of all violations of the
8 ordinances passed by the commission committed within the parish of Terrebonne.
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 401 Original 2024 Regular Session Zeringue
Abstract: Establishes the Houma-Terrebonne airport police and provides for the
appointment of police officers. Authorizes the airport police to make arrests and
surrender those arrested to the sheriff of Terrebonne. Provides authority for the
commission to regulate the police.
Proposed law provides authority for the Houma-Terrebonne airport commission to appoint,
fix salaries of, and pay airport police.
Proposed law enables the airport police to perform law enforcement duties commensurate
with powers of sheriffs.
Proposed law provides for arrestees of the airport police to be delivered to the sheriff of the
parish of Terrebonne, and it provides that such authority not deprive any local law
enforcement from performing their duties.
Proposed law allows for the commission to make rules and regulations relative to the airport
police and provides for modification to the rules and regulations.
(Adds R.S. 2:604.3)
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