Statutory Provisions - R.S. 24:801-806

§801. Findings; purpose

The legislature finds and declares that there is a need for a permanent intergovernmental advisory body to study and report on:

(1) The current pattern of local governmental structure and its viability.

(2) The powers and functions of local governments, including their fiscal powers.

(3) The existing, necessary, and desirable relationship between and among local governments and the state.

(4) The existing, necessary, and desirable allocation of state and local fiscal resources.

(5) The existing, necessary, and desirable role of the state as the creator of the local governmental systems.

(6) The special problems facing general local governments, interstate regional units, and areawide bodies in interstate areas, such studies where possible to be conducted in conjunction with those of pertinent sister state commissions.

(7) Any constitutional amendments and statutory enactments required to implement appropriate commission recommendations.

§802. Creation; composition

A. There is hereby created a Louisiana Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations.

B. The commission shall be composed of nineteen members as follows:

(1) Three elected municipal officials appointed by the executive board of the Louisiana Municipal Association or their designees.

(2) Three elected parish government officials appointed by the executive board of the Louisiana Police Jury Association or their designees.

(3) Three elected school board officials appointed by the Louisiana School Board Association or their designees.

(4) The superintendent of education or his designee.

(5) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Economic Development or his designee.

(6) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue or his designee.

(7) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development or his designee.

(8) Three state representatives appointed by the speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives.

(9) Three state senators appointed by the president of the Louisiana Senate.

C. The chairman and vice chairman of the commission shall be elected by the members of the commission and shall serve for a term of one year.

D. Ten members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

§803. Functions and duties

The commission shall have the following functions and duties:

(1) To serve as an advisory agency of the legislature and be responsible solely to the legislature in every aspect of its functions, duties, and operations.

(2) To serve as a forum for the discussion and resolution of intergovernmental problems.

(3) To engage in such activities and conduct such studies as are necessary or desirable in the accomplishment of the purposes set forth in R.S. 24:801.

(4) To consider, on its own initiative, ways and means of fostering better relations among local governments and between local governments and the state government.

(5) To draft and disseminate model local ordinances necessary to implement recommendations of the commission.

(6) To encourage, and, where appropriate, coordinate studies relating to intergovernmental relations conducted by universities, state, local, and federal agencies, and research and consulting organizations.

(7) To review the recommendations of national commissions studying federal, state, and local government relationships and problems and assess their possible application to Louisiana.

(8) To analyze the structure, functions, revenue requirements, and fiscal policies of Louisiana and its political subdivisions; conduct studies of economic, administrative tax, and revenue matters for all levels of state government; and make recommendations for improvement.

(9) To examine proposed and existing federal and state programs, assess their impact upon Louisiana and its political subdivisions, and provide such assessment and recommendations, when appropriate, to the legislature.

(10) To issue annual reports of its findings and recommendations to be transmitted to the presiding officer of each house of the legislature not less than thirty days prior to the convening of each regular session of the legislature. Such reports shall set forth the reasons and supporting data for each recommendation and shall include draft legislation to implement such recommendations. Recommendations regarding economic and taxation issues shall be accompanied by supporting analyses of economic data. The commission may issue special or interim reports on specific subjects as it may deem appropriate.

§804. Meetings; hearings; committees

A. The commission shall hold meetings quarterly and at such times as it deems necessary. The commission may hold hearings from time to time on matters within its purview.

B. To the extent permitted by and in accordance with R.S. 44:1 et seq., each officer, board, commission, council, department, or agency of state government, and each political subdivision of the state shall make available all facts, records, information, and data requested by the commission and in all ways cooperate with the commission in carrying out the functions and duties imposed by this Chapter.

C. The commission may establish committees as it deems advisable and feasible, whose membership shall include at least one member of the commission, but only the commission itself may take official action.

D. The commission may adopt rules of procedure for its operation.

§805. Staff

The commission shall use existing staff of the legislature, including but not limited to personnel of the legislative fiscal office.

§806. Finances

A.(1) No member of the commission shall receive any salary for duties performed as a member of the commission.

(2) Legislator members of the commission shall receive per diem and be reimbursed for expenses as provided by law and the rules of the Senate or House of Representatives.

B. The commission is authorized to apply for, contract for, receive, and expend for its purposes any appropriation or grant from the state, its political subdivisions, the federal government, or any other public or private source.

C. To assist financially with the exercise of the functions and duties provided in R.S. 24:803, state appropriations are hereby authorized in such amounts as may be necessary.

D. The funds for the operations of the commission, over and above such funds as are now or may hereafter be made available by law or otherwise may be appropriated by the legislature from the state general fund from year to year, may be included in and constitute a separate item in the act appropriating funds for the expenses of the legislature and its committees. In addition, the presiding officers of each house of the legislature shall have authority to expend, or to pay over to the commission for expenditure, out of any funds available to either or both of them such amounts as are necessary to provide supplementary funds for the purpose of fully carrying out any one or more of the functions of the commission for the benefit of the legislature, its members, and committees.