2024 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 421
BY SENATOR LUNEAU
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Subpart O of Part XI of Title 15 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be
3 comprised of R.S. 15:1109.21 through 1109.26, relative to a renaissance district in
4 certain parishes; to provide for juvenile detention and treatment services; to create
5 a board of commissioners of the district; to provide for the powers, duties, and
6 functions of the board; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. Subpart O of Part XI of Title 15 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
9 comprised of R.S. 15:1109.21 through 1109.26, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 SUBPART O. RENAISSANCE DISTRICT
11 §1109.21. Renaissance District; creation; jurisdiction
12 A renaissance district is hereby created in any parish having a
13 population of more than one hundred twenty-nine thousand and less than one
14 hundred thirty-two thousand persons according to the most recent federal
15 decennial census, which shall be a political subdivision of the state.
16 §1109.22. Board of commissioners; appointment; terms
17 A. The renaissance district shall be governed by a commission which
ACT No. 767
Page 1 of 5
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 421 ENROLLED
1 shall control, administer, and manage its affairs. The commission shall be
2 composed of seven commissioners, and each shall be a qualified elector of and
3 domiciled in the parish. Each commissioner shall be appointed for a term of
4 four years as follows:
5 (1) Five members shall be appointed by the parish governing authority
6 as follows:
7 (a) Two members shall be appointed from an existing renaissance board
8 of directors as long as that board exists, after which time two members shall be
9 appointed from the residents of the parish who are not employed by the parish
10 police jury and who have experience with juveniles in education, rehabilitation,
11 or incarceration of juveniles.
12 (b) Three members who are not employed by the parish police jury who
13 have experience with juveniles in education, rehabilitation, or incarceration of
14 juveniles.
15 (2) One member who is employed by the sheriff's office of the parish
16 having experience with juveniles in education, rehabilitation, or incarceration
17 of juveniles.
18 (3) One member who is employed by office of the district attorney of the
19 parish having experience with juveniles in education, rehabilitation, or
20 incarceration of juveniles.
21 B. The members of the board of commissioners shall serve without salary
22 or per diem but the board may authorize reasonable travel allowances for
23 members in the performance of their official duties.
24 §1109.23. Purpose
25 The purpose of the commission shall be to assist and afford opportunities
26 to preadjudicatory and postadjudicatory children who enter the juvenile justice
27 system to become productive, law-abiding citizens of the community, parish,
28 and state through the establishment of rehabilitative programs within a
29 structured environment, and to provide physical facilities and related services
30 for children throughout the district.
Page 2 of 5
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 421 ENROLLED
1 §1109.24. Board of commissioners; officers; meetings
2 A. The board of commissioners shall elect a president, a secretary, and
3 a treasurer, whose duties in addition to those provided by this Subpart shall be
4 established by the board. If the board so decides, one commissioner may serve
5 as both secretary and treasurer, but in any event the treasurer shall furnish
6 bond in an amount and in accordance with terms and conditions fixed by the
7 board. The board may also elect an executive committee, composed of not more
8 than five members, and establish its duties and responsibilities.
9 B. The board shall fix a time and place for the holding of its regular
10 meetings. Additional regular or special meetings may be held upon the call of
11 the president or of three of the commissioners. All meetings of the board shall
12 be held at the domicile of the board and shall be governed by the provisions of
13 R.S. 42:11 et seq. The board shall hold at least one regular meeting in each
14 calendar month; however, the board may meet less frequently but not less than
15 once each calendar quarter if it establishes an executive committee and requires
16 it to hold regular meetings at least once in each calendar month.
17 C. A majority of the current members of the board shall constitute a
18 quorum. A quorum shall be required to transact business and all actions and
19 resolutions of the board shall be approved by a majority of the quorum present.
20 §1109.25. Board; general authority
21 A. The board may purchase or otherwise acquire, construct, reconstruct,
22 rehabilitate, improve, repair, operate, lease as lessor or lessee, manage, and
23 administer or enter into contracts for the management, administration, and
24 operation of a juvenile detention facility or facilities, shelter-care facility or
25 facilities, or other juvenile justice facilities as are useful, necessary, expedient,
26 or convenient to carry out the plans and purposes of the commission and for the
27 orderly conduct of its business. These facilities may include but are not limited
28 to office facilities, parking facilities, diagnostic facilities, dormitories, and other
29 residential facilities for delinquent, neglected, or abused children or children in
30 need of care or supervision, or in need of services as provided by law as well as
Page 3 of 5
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 421 ENROLLED
1 for employees, patrons, visitors, and relatives of children who may enter the
2 juvenile justice system or who are in need of care or supervision or services. In
3 addition, the commission may lease, purchase, or acquire by donation or
4 otherwise, any property, immovable or movable, tangible or intangible, from
5 any person, firm, or corporation, including the state and its agencies and
6 political subdivisions.
7 B. The board may authorize and approve, upon such terms as it may
8 deem advisable, contracts of employment for a superintendent or administrator
9 and other necessary personnel and contracts for legal, financial, engineering,
10 and other professional services necessary or expedient for the conduct of its
11 affairs.
12 §1109.26. Board; domicile; power to levy taxes, incur debt, issue bonds
13 A. The board of commissioners shall be domiciled in the parish and shall
14 have the power to sue and be sued. In the exercise of its powers to control,
15 administer, and manage the affairs of the district, the board may incur debt and
16 issue bonds, and it may levy taxes in the manner provided in this Subpart and
17 pursuant to Article VI, Sections 30 and 32 of the Constitution of Louisiana or
18 any other constitutional or statutory authority. The board generally may
19 perform any function and exercise any power necessary, requisite, or proper for
20 the administration and management of the affairs of the commission, and it
21 specifically may cooperate with juvenile courts and other courts and public
22 agencies within the parish and aid and assist in all ways authorized by law to
23 carry out the purposes and responsibilities for which it is established.
24 B. In addition to the general powers conferred by this Section, in order
25 to obtain the necessary funds to carry out its purposes, duties, and
26 responsibilities, and in order to acquire, construct, maintain, and operate a
27 juvenile facility or facilities and related services and programs throughout the
28 territorial jurisdiction of the parish, the commission may incur debt and issue
29 general obligation bonds within the limitations prescribed by Article VI, Section
30 33 of the Constitution of Louisiana and other applicable constitutional or
Page 4 of 5
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 421 ENROLLED
1 statutory authority, but only when authorized by a majority of the electors in
2 the district who vote thereon in an election held for that purpose in accordance
3 with laws governing such elections.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
Page 5 of 5
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.