SLS 24RS-1506 ORIGINAL 2024 Regular Session SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 28 BY SENATOR MIZELL INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE. Establishes the Louisiana-Ireland Commission. 1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION 2 To establish the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission. 3 WHEREAS, a significant portion of Louisiana residents are of Irish descent whose 4 ancestors immigrated from Ireland and settled in numerous locations throughout the state; 5 and 6 WHEREAS, the ties that bind Ireland to Louisiana are deep lasting and to honor 7 those of Irish descent in our state, the legislature designates the month of March of each year 8 as "Irish-American Heritage Month"; and 9 WHEREAS, Ireland and Louisiana are attempting to reinvent their economies for 10 success in the twenty-first century; and 11 WHEREAS, Louisiana has both historic and practical reasons to desire the building 12 of stronger commercial links with Ireland and for these reasons, there is hereby established 13 the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission; and 14 WHEREAS, the purpose of the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission shall be to: 15 1. Advance bilateral trade and investment between Louisiana and Ireland: 16 2. Initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to Louisiana and Ireland; 17 3. Promote business and academic exchanges between Louisiana and Ireland; 18 4. Encourage mutual economic support between Louisiana and Ireland. Page 1 of 3 SCR NO. 28 SLS 24RS-1506 ORIGINAL 1 5. Encourage mutual investment in the infrastructure of Louisiana and Ireland. 2 6. Address any other issue as determined by the commission. 3 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana establishes the 4 Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission to reinvent the economies of Louisiana and Ireland for 5 success, build a stronger commercial link with Ireland, and to propose recommendations, 6 together with specific proposals for legislation, by written report to the Senate and to the 7 David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library as required by R.S. 24:771 and 772, no later 8 than March 1, 2025. 9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission shall 10 be comprised of the following members: 11 1. Two members of the Senate or their designee, appointed by the President of the 12 Senate; 13 2. Two members of the House of Representatives or their designee, appointed by the 14 Speaker of the House of Representatives; 15 3. Five members of the commission shall be appointed by the governor; which 16 members appointed shall include at least one representative from a public institution of 17 higher education and at least two public members representing Irish-American communities 18 or interests. 19 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all appointments shall be made no later than 20 September 1, 2024, and a vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled in 21 the same manner as the original appointment was made. 22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall meet as necessary and 23 shall report its findings, results, and recommendations to the governor and the Legislature 24 of Louisiana. The report shall be in writing and include recommendations as deemed 25 appropriate by the commission to effectuate its purpose. 26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall convene for its first 27 meeting no later than October 1, 2024, at the call of the Senate president, and at the first 28 meeting, the members shall elect a chairman and other officers as the commission may deem 29 appropriate. 30 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the commission shall constitute Page 2 of 3 SCR NO. 28 SLS 24RS-1506 ORIGINAL 1 a quorum for the transaction of business and all official actions of the commission shall 2 require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting. 3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the commission shall serve 4 without compensation, except per diem or expense reimbursement to which they may be 5 individually entitled as members of their constituent organizations. 6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Senate Legislative Services shall provide staff 7 support for the commission. 8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall terminate on the date of 9 the submission of its report or August 1, 2025, whichever occurs first. 10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the 11 Louisiana Legislature and Governor Jeff Landry. The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Xavier I. Alexander. DIGEST SCR 28 Original 2024 Regular Session Mizell Establishes the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission. Page 3 of 3