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2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 799
BY REPRESENTATIVE ST. BLANC
GOVERNOR: Provides for the Louisiana Governor's Mansion Advisory Commission
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact the heading of Chapter 23 of Title 25 of the Revised Statutes of 1950
3 and R.S. 25:1011, 1012, 1013(A)(3) and (5) and (B), and 1014 and R.S. 36:4(B)(36),
4 to enact R.S. 42:17(E) and R.S. 44:4.1(B)(40), and to repeal R.S. 25:1016, relative
5 to the Louisiana Governor's Mansion Advisory Commission; to provide for the
6 jurisdictional area of the commission; to provide for membership; to provide for the
7 term of membership for certain members; to provide for the powers, duties, and
8 responsibilities of the commission; to provide for exceptions to the Public Records
9 Law and Open Meetings Law; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for
10 related matters.
11Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
12 Section 1. The heading of Chapter 23 of Title 25 of the Revised Statutes of 1950 and
13R.S. 25:1011, 1012, 1013(A)(3) and (5) and (B), and 1014 are hereby amended and
14reenacted to read as follows:
15CHAPTER 23. LOUISIANA GOVERNOR'S MANSION ADVISORY COMMISSION
16 §1011. Establishment; purpose
17 The Louisiana Governor's Mansion Advisory Commission, hereafter in this
18 Chapter referred to as the commission, is hereby created and established as an
19 agency in the office of the governor, for purposes of providing recommendations on
20 the protection and enhancement of the governor's mansion, its contents, furnishings,
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1 and grounds. The purpose of the commission is to ensure a continuum in the
2 appearance, the preservation of contents, furnishings, and surrounding areas of the
3 governor's mansion consistent with the historical significance and importance of the
4 governor's mansion.
5 §1012. Jurisdictional area
6 The commission shall have jurisdiction over the public as well as private
7 areas of the governor's mansion and grounds. Public areas shall consist of the first
8 floor, the stairwell in the rotunda, the state wing of the second floor, and all grounds
9 in front and on each side of the mansion. The private areas of the governor's
10 mansion and grounds shall be all other areas within the mansion and grounds not
11 specifically described as a public area in this Section.
12 §1013. Membership; appointment; terms; officers; compensation
13 A. The commission shall be composed as follows:
14 * * *
15 (3) The chief of staff of the governor's spouse or, if the governor has no
16 spouse, the person employed at the governor's mansion in the position known as the
17 executive residence director.
18 * * *
19 (5) Three members appointed by the governor after consultation with staff
20 employed at the governor's mansion.
21 B.(1) The initial terms of the members appointed pursuant to Paragraphs
22 (A)(2), (4), and (5) of this Section shall be as determined by lot at the first meeting
23 of the commission as follows: one member shall serve an initial term of one year;
24 one member shall serve an initial term of two years; one member shall serve an
25 initial term of three years; one member shall serve an initial term of four years; and
26 one member shall serve an initial term of five years.
27 (2) After the initial term of office, the term of each of the members
28 appointed pursuant to Paragraphs (A)(2), (4), and (5) of this Section shall be five
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1 years. The members appointed pursuant to Paragraphs (A)(2), (4), and (5) shall
2 serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
3 * * *
4 §1014. Commission powers, duties, and responsibilities; approval of changes
5 required
6 A. No improvement, renovation, redecoration, or enhancement of the public
7 or private areas and grounds of the governor's mansion shall be made without the
8 prior approval of the commission. Commission approval shall be required prior to
9 any painting, renovation, non-appliance repair, redecoration, or significant
10 movement of or rearrangement of furniture, artwork, antique pieces, vases, or other
11 items in the public areas.
12 B. In addition, the The commission shall have the following powers, duties,
13 functions, and responsibilities:
14 (1) To make recommendations relative to improvements, renovation,
15 redecoration, or enhancement of the governor's mansion.
16 (2) To hold meetings as necessary, which shall be held at the governor's
17 mansion.
18 (3) To promote a greater understanding and awareness of the importance and
19 significance of the governor's mansion and enhance and maintain the appearance,
20 furnishings, and surroundings thereof so that it may serve as a symbol and actual
21 representation of the history and cultural heritage of the state.
22 (2) (4) To assist in research for and promote the publication of appropriate
23 materials concerning the governor's mansion and its contents and grounds and the
24 history and significance thereof, and to coordinate and guide any such activity by
25 other state and local agencies.
26 (3) (5)(a) To enter into loan agreements, subject to the approval of the
27 governor, for the loan of any item that is not owned by the state and that is to be
28 housed in the governor's mansion or located on its grounds and for the loan of any
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1 item owned or controlled by another state agency which is to be housed in the
2 governor's mansion or located on its grounds.
3 (b) Any item that is the subject of a loan agreement shall be included in the
4 property inventory of the governor's mansion as required by R.S. 39:324.
5 (c) Any item that is the subject of a loan agreement shall be covered by
6 adequate insurance through the office of risk management to insure repair or
7 replacement. The commission shall participate in the state's risk management
8 program and provide for such coverage through the program.
9 (4) (6) To create a program for annual audit, spot-check inventory, and
10 post-audit functions for the protection of all items contained in the inventory that are
11 owned by the state or on loan to the state and that are housed in the governor's
12 mansion or located on its grounds.
13 (7) To provide the office of risk management in the division of
14 administration with a property inventory for the assessment of adequate insurance
15 through the office of risk management to insure the repair or replacement of items
16 housed in the governor's mansion or located on its grounds, including items that are
17 not owned by the state.
18 (5) (8) To provide a procedure for receiving inventory items at the end of a
19 governor's term and for turning over the inventory items to the incoming governor's
20 spouse or designee.
21 (9) To assist and advise in the orderly transition from one governor to his
22 successor with respect to all matters within the jurisdiction of the commission.
23 (6) (10) To monitor public and private areas and grounds of the governor's
24 mansion to ensure proper maintenance and repair.
25 B.(1) Meetings of the commission shall be exempt from the provisions of
26 R.S. 42:11 et seq.
27 (2) Records of the commission shall be exempt from the provisions of R.S.
28 44:1 et seq.
29 Section 2. R.S. 36:4(B)(36) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
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1 §4. Structure of executive branch of state government
2 * * *
3 B. The office of the governor shall be in the executive branch of state
4 government. The governor may allocate within his office the powers, duties, funds,
5 functions, appropriations, responsibilities, and personnel of the agencies within his
6 office and provide for the administration thereof and for the organization of his
7 office. The following agencies and their powers, duties, functions, and
8 responsibilities are hereby transferred to the office of the governor:
9 * * *
10 (36) Louisiana Governor's Mansion Advisory Commission (R.S. 25:1011 et
11 seq.).
12 * * *
13 Section 3. R.S. 42:17(E) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
14 §17. Exceptions to open meetings
15 * * *
16 E. The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to meetings of the
17 Louisiana Governor's Mansion Advisory Commission.
18 Section 4. R.S. 44:4.1(B)(40) is are hereby enacted to read as follows:
19 §4.1. Exceptions
20 * * *
21 B. The legislature further recognizes that there exist exceptions, exemptions,
22 and limitations to the laws pertaining to public records throughout the revised
23 statutes and codes of this state. Therefore, the following exceptions, exemptions, and
24 limitations are hereby continued in effect by incorporation into this Chapter by
25 citation:
26 * * *
27 (40) R.S. 25:1014.
28 Section 5. R.S. 25:1016 is hereby repealed.
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1 Section 6. The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby authorized and directed to
2arrange in numerical order the provisions of R.S. 44:4.1(B) as amended by this Act.
3 Section 7. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
4signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
5by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
6vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
7effective on the day following such approval.
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 799 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session St. Blanc
Abstract: Provides for the La. Governor's Mansion Advisory Commission membership and
duties and provides an exception for public records and meetings of the committee.
Present law provides for the La. Governor's Mansion Commission (commission) as an
agency in the office of the governor, for the protection and enhancement of the governor's
mansion, its contents, furnishings, and grounds to ensure a continuum in the appearance, the
preservation of contents, furnishings, and surrounding areas of the governor's mansion
consistent with the historical significance and importance of the governor's mansion.
Proposed law renames the commission the La. Governor's Mansion Advisory Commission
and limits the role of the commission so as to limit its authority to making recommendations
within the scope of its stated purpose.
Present law grants the commission jurisdiction over the public and private areas of the
governor's mansion and grounds and defines the public areas as the first floor, the stairwell
in the rotunda, the state wing of the second floor, and all grounds in front and on each side
of the mansion.
Proposed law limits the commission's jurisdiction to public areas only and excludes the state
wing of the second floor as a public area.
Present law provides for the membership of the commission as follows:
(1)If the governor is married, the governor's spouse or the spouse's designee; if the
governor is unmarried, the governor or his designee.
(2)A person appointed by the person serving pursuant to (1).
(3)The person employed at the governor's mansion in the position known as the
executive residence director. Proposed law instead provides for the chief of staff of
the governor's spouse or, if the governor is unmarried, the executive residence
director.
(4)A member of a former governor's family appointed by the governor.
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(5)Three members appointed by the governor after consultation with staff employed at
the governor's mansion. Proposed law removes the requirement that the governor
consult with staff employed at the mansion prior to appointment of the three
members.
Present law provides for the appointed members of the commission to serve staggered 5-year
terms. Proposed law instead provides for the appointed members to serve at the pleasure of
the appointing authority.
Present law provides that no improvement, renovation, redecoration, or enhancement of the
public or private areas and grounds of the governor's mansion shall be made without the
prior approval of the commission, including any painting, renovation, non-appliance repair,
redecoration, or significant movement of or rearrangement of furniture, artwork, antique
pieces, vases, or other items in the public areas.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Present law provides several powers and duties of the commission, including the power to
enter loan agreement for the loan of any item not owned by the state or owned by another
state agency to be housed in the governor's mansion or located on the grounds. Proposed
law requires the governor's approval to enter into such a loan agreement.
Present law requires any item that is the subject of a loan agreement to be covered by
adequate insurance through the office of risk management to insure repair or replacement
and requires the commission to participate in the state's risk management program and
provide for such coverage through the program. Proposed law instead requires the
commission to provide the office of risk management with a property inventory for the
assessment of adequate insurance through the office to insure the repair or replacement of
items housed in the governor's mansion or located on its grounds, including any item that
is not owned by the state.
Present law authorizes the commission to create a program for annual audit, spot-check
inventory, and post-audit functions for the protection of all items contained in an inventory
of movable property. Proposed law instead provides for the program to apply only to items
located in the mansion owned by the state or on loan to the state housed in the governor's
mansion or located on its grounds.
Proposed law adds the following powers and duties of the commission:
(1)To make recommendations relative to improvements, renovation, redecoration, or
enhancement of the governor's mansion.
(2)To hold meetings as necessary, which shall be held at the governor's mansion.
(3)To assist and advise in the orderly transition from a governor to his successor with
respect to all matters within the jurisdiction of the commission.
Proposed law exempts meetings of the commission from the Open Meetings Law.
Proposed law exempts records of the commission from the Public Records Law.
Present law provides that the commission, either directly or through a foundation established
to aid the commission in a philanthropic manner, may solicit, accept, use, and dispose of any
private or public funds in the form of donations of money, grants, property, or personal
services from individuals, corporations, and governments to achieve the purposes of the
commission subject to rules and regulations adopted by the commission.
Proposed law repeals present law.
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Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends the heading of Ch. 23 of Title 25 of L.R.S. and R.S. 25:1011, 1012, 1013(A)(3)
and (5) and (B), and 1014 and R.S. 36:4(B)(36); Adds R.S. 42:17(E) and R.S. 44:4.1(B)(40);
Repeals R.S. 25:1016)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to the original bill:
1. Provide an effective date.
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