La. Rev. Stat. § 38:103 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 103
Coordination and cooperation
Status: in_force

A. It is the policy of this Chapter that the West Bank hurricane protection projects be pursued so that there is full coordination and cooperation between all federal and state entities that have complementing or overlapping interests and authority in the projects. The chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board or the executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is authorized to coordinate all of the state and local governmental aspects of the projects so that there is an orderly development of the project.

B. The chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board or the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is authorized to call upon the West Jefferson Levee District, the Orleans Levee District, Plaquemines Parish, the Lafourche Basin Conservation Levee and Drainage District, and all other commissions and districts and state agencies, departments, and political subdivisions of the state for full and complete cooperation and assistance in carrying out the provisions of this Chapter, and all such entities are hereby directed and it shall be their duty to cooperate and assist in carrying out the provisions of this Chapter to the fullest extent possible.

Acts 1993, No. 1012, §1, eff. June 25, 1993; Acts 2008, No. 503, §1; Acts 2009, No. 523, §2, eff. July 10, 2009; Acts 2012, No. 604, §2, eff. June 7, 2012; Acts 2016, No. 459, §1; Acts 2024, No. 177, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1800 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1800
Reorganization of gravity drainage districts
Status: in_force

Any drainage district, or sub-drainage district organized under existing laws, which are composed wholly of land which drain naturally, or by gravity, may avail itself, of the provisions of this Part and reorganize under the provisions hereof, by making the facts known to the police jury or juries of the parish, or parishes, in which the drainage, or sub-drainage district may be located. Upon application from the drainage board of the drainage district, or sub-drainage district, the police jury, or juries, shall immediately reorganize the district under the provisions of this Part, and commissioners shall be appointed for the district, or sub-district, as hereinbefore provided. Any drainage or sub-drainage district so reorganized under the provisions of this Part must assume all the debts and obligations of the old district, or sub-district, and the debts and obligations must be liquidated and adjusted with the creditors of the district, or sub-district and paid out of any funds that may be turned over to the new district as herein organized from the old district, or sub-district, or any funds that may be realized under the provisions of this Part by the levying and collecting of taxes or forced contributions, issuing of bonds, or in any other manner herein provided. They may carry out any contract that may have been entered into by the old district or sub-district, which they supplant, in the same manner as though the old district or sub-district had been continued in existence.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1680.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1680.1
St. Mary Parish; powers of parish, drainage districts, and any incorporated municipality in the parish to levy taxes and charges for drainage facilities
Status: in_force

A. The parish of St. Mary, any drainage district in the parish, and any incorporated municipality in the parish are authorized to levy special taxes on all the property within their boundaries for the purpose of constructing, acquiring, maintaining, operating, or improving drains and drainage facilities within such boundaries in the manner provided by the constitution and laws of this state after having been authorized to do so at a special election held in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and laws of this state.

B.(1) The parish of St. Mary, any drainage district in the parish, and any incorporated municipality in the parish are authorized to levy and impose a charge for the purpose of constructing, acquiring, maintaining, operating, or improving drains and drainage facilities within their corporate boundaries, such charge to be imposed on a per acre basis, provided that such charge shall be imposed by resolution or ordinance of the governing authority of the particular public entity only after the question of the imposition of the charge and the purpose, rate, and duration of the charge has been approved by a majority of the voters voting at an election held within the corporate boundaries of the entity in accordance with the constitution and laws of this state. Any such charge authorized shall be levied by the governing authority of the entity against each acre of land, or portion of an acre on a pro rata basis, within the boundaries of the entity, and the assessor of St. Mary Parish shall assess each parcel of property within the entity and shall prepare an assessment roll in triplicate and shall provide a copy to the clerk of court and a copy to the tax collector of the parish, or the tax collector of the municipality in the case of a tax by a municipality, and one copy to the governing authority of the entity. The acreage of each parcel or pro rata portion of an acre may be determined by land surveying or may be determined by controlled aerial photography and computer digitalization, performed in accordance with the United States National Map Accuracy Standards of photography at a scale of 1"-100 feet. The charge shall be due and payable annually at the same time as property taxes and the charge shall be collected in the same manner as ad valorem taxes are collected by tax collectors of the respective entities.

(2) The purpose, rate, and duration of the charge shall be set forth in the proposition submitted at the election to authorize its imposition. Such charge shall not in any event exceed twenty-five dollars per acre for residential property, two dollars per acre for agricultural property, one dollar per acre for marsh and timberlands, fifteen dollars per acre for commercial and industrial property, and shall be based upon the following classifications:

(a) Bona fide agricultural lands.

(b) Improvements for residential purposes.

(c) Marsh and timberlands.

(d) Commercial and industrial properties.

(3) All laws now in force or that may hereafter be enacted, providing for, regulating, and governing the procedure for the collection of state and local ad valorem taxes and the creation of tax liens, penalties, methods, and procedures for sales for delinquent taxes shall also apply to regulate and govern the collection of the charges authorized to be imposed or levied under the provisions of this Section, and the charges shall be collected through the tax collector of the respective entity at the same time and in the same manner that he collects other ad valorem taxes, and the revenues from the charges shall be by him turned over to the treasurer of the entity.

Acts 1993, No. 1015, §1, eff. June 25, 1993.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:213.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 213.1
Hunting or discharge of firearms, when prohibited
Status: in_force

A. Hunting or the discharge of firearms on roads or highways located on public levees or within one hundred feet from the center line of such roads or highways is hereby prohibited except by law enforcement officers in discharge of their official duties.

Whoever violates this section shall be fined not more than fifty dollars or imprisoned for more than thirty days or both.

B. In addition to such other law enforcement officers as by law are vested with such authority, the law enforcement officers of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission are authorized to enforce the provisions of this section.

Added by Acts 1968, No. 346, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3056 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3056
Assistance; advisory subcommittees
Status: in_force

The director of public works and the parish attorney shall serve in an advisory capacity to the commission, subject to call by the commission. The office of parish clerk shall furnish such clerical assistance as may from time to time be required by the commission. The commission shall be, and is hereby authorized to appoint such advisory subcommittees as may be deemed appropriate for the purpose of working with the commission in the study of various phases of water supply, usage, ground water conditions and special reports of salt water encroachment.

Added by Acts 1970, No. 682, §6.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:223 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 223
Irrigating or flooding land near base of levee prohibited
Status: in_force

No person shall in any manner cover with water for any purpose, on the land side of any public levee or levees, any land situated upon the Mississippi River within a distance of one hundred and fifty feet from the base of any public levee.

All siphons placed over public levees upon lands bordering on the Mississippi River shall be constructed to conform to the shape of the pre-existing levee and shall be made of such length and laid in such manner as to deposit their water at a distance of not less than twenty-seven feet from the base of the public levee so crossed. No public levee shall be cut or otherwise altered for the purpose of admitting the passage or of conforming to the shape of any siphon crossing the levee.

Whoever violates this Section shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days or both.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1656 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1656
Limit of tax levy
Status: in_force

The total taxes levied, exclusive of taxes levied for interest on bonds, for maintenance, or under R.S. 38:1669, shall not exceed the total assessed benefits as decreed by the court under R.S. 38:1628. The annual installment of taxes shall not exceed in any one year ten per cent of the total taxes levied, exclusive of maintenance taxes and taxes levied under R.S. 38:1669.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:388 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 388
Trial according to Code of Civil Procedure and the general expropriation laws
Status: in_force

Except as provided in this Part, these suits shall be tried in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure and general expropriation laws.

Acts 1985, No. 785, §1, eff. July 22, 1985.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1640 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1640
Payment for property expropriated; assessment of portion not taken
Status: in_force

The board of commissioners of drainage districts may not enter upon or take possession of any land or property expropriated for rights of way, canals, levees, holding basins, pumping plant sites, or other works of the districts, until the prices awarded to the owners of the land or property shall have been paid to the owners or into the hands of the clerk of the court condemning the property for the use of the owners. If the sums awarded are not paid within five years from the date of the judgment of expropriation, the judgment shall be without further force or effect. Whenever any land is acquired by any district under the provisions of this Part and the price of the property has been paid the owner by the district, the title, use, possession and enjoyment of the property shall pass from the owner and be vested in the district, and subject to its use, profit, employment and final disposition. The price awarded for all lands acquired by any district for rights of way, canals, levees, holding basins, pumping plant sites, or other works, and the amount of damages assessed by the board of appraisers and confirmed by the court to any tract or parcel of land or other property in the district, shall be paid in cash to the owner or to the clerk of the court for the use of the owner, and that portion of any tract or parcel of land or other property not taken for use of the district shall be assessed for the benefits accruing in accordance with the provisions of previous sections of this Part.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2351 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2351
Coordinated Use of Resources for Recreation, Economy, Navigation, and Transportation Authority; purpose and intent
Status: in_force

A. The Coordinated Use of Resources for Recreation, Economy, Navigation, and Transportation Authority, referred to in this Chapter as the "authority", is hereby established as the single coordinating entity responsible for the prioritization, planning, and funding of projects related to flood control, risk reduction, navigation, and water resource management in all areas of the state not included within the coastal area as defined in R.S. 49:214.2.

B. The legislature declares that it is the public policy of the state to develop and implement, on a comprehensive and coordinated basis, an integrated plan that shall support and integrate the development and implementation of policies and initiatives for flood protection, infrastructure planning, and economic development in the upland area. Consistent with this goal, it is the policy of this state to achieve a proper balance between development and conservation and encourage the use of state resources in responsible economic development of the area. The authority shall implement the policy within these areas ensuring the efficient and coordinated management of water resources within its jurisdiction, addressing issues related to water quantity, flood risk mitigation, navigation, economic development, and recreation. It shall be the policy of the state within these areas that through the comprehensive and coordinated efforts and acting in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter, the authority shall exercise all powers necessary to plan, develop, and implement projects and programs consistent with the legislative intent expressed in this Chapter.

C.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of state or federal law, the authority is established, authorized, and empowered to carry out all functions necessary to serve as the single entity responsible to act as the local sponsor for construction, operation, and maintenance of all projects approved by the board in areas under its jurisdiction.

(2) Nothing in this Chapter shall impair, amend, supersede, or nullify the authority of any political subdivision, port, navigation district, or levee district designated as a local sponsor pursuant to an act of Congress, a federal authorization, or a cooperative agreement with the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Acts 2025, No. 418, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:113 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 113
Control of drainage channels and outfall canals in levee and drainage districts
Status: in_force

A. The various levee and drainage districts, and local governing bodies shall have a legal servitude by which control is given to the local governing body or district over all public drainage channels or outfall canals within the limits of their districts which are selected by the district, and for a space of one hundred feet on both sides of the banks of such channels or outfall canals, and one hundred feet continuing outward from the mouth of such channels or outfall canals, whether the drainage channels or outfall canals have been improved by the levee or drainage district, or have been adopted without improvement as necessary parts of or extensions to improved drainage channels or outfall canals, and may adopt rules and regulations for preserving the efficiency of the drainage channels or outfall canals.

B. Property may not be taken or damaged by the districts or local governing bodies pursuant to this Section, except for public purposes and with just compensation paid to the owner.

C. The regulation or prohibition of drainage into a public system that is not authorized by a natural servitude or other legal right shall not constitute a taking or damaging of property.

D. The local governing authority or district shall be immune from damage to public works projects by excessive, unlawful drainage into its system.

Acts 1991, No. 309, §2; Acts 2025, No. 452, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:367 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 367
Procedure in general
Status: in_force

In cases to be tried by jury, six jurors summoned in accordance with law shall be chosen by lot to try the case. The method of calling and drawing by lot shall be at the discretion of the court.

Acts 1985, No. 785, §1, eff. July 22, 1985.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:90.10 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 90.10
Preparation of plans and specifications; letting of bids for construction; supervision of construction
Status: in_force

A. Sponsoring authorities with a population of fifty thousand persons or more shall be responsible for the preparation of plans and specifications for their respective projects. These authorities shall also be responsible for the letting of bids for construction, and the supervision of construction for all projects in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

B. For sponsoring authorities with a population of less than fifty thousand persons, the office may prepare the necessary plans and specifications, may let the contract for bid, and may supervise the construction of the project.

Acts 1983, No. 224, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1761 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1761
Selection of commissioners
Status: in_force

In the event of the creation of a gravity drainage district within two or more parishes, the drainage commissioners shall be appointed or selected as aforesaid, three by the police jury of the parish which has the greatest area in the district and two by the police jury of the other parish. When all or portions of three parishes are included, two commissioners shall be appointed by the governing authority of the parish having the greatest area in the district, two shall be appointed by the governing authority of the parish having the second largest area in the district, and one shall be appointed by the governing authority of the other parish. When all or portions of four parishes are included, two commissioners shall be appointed by the governing authority of the parish which has the greatest area in the district and one commissioner shall be appointed by the governing authorities of each of the other parishes. When all or portions of five parishes are included, the governing authorities of each of the parishes shall appoint one commissioner. When all or portions of more than five parishes are included, the governing authorities of the five parishes having the greatest acreage in the district each shall appoint one of the five commissioners. When all or portions of more than one parish are included within the district, the commissioners shall determine the terms by drawing lots for the long and short terms. Any commissioner so appointed may be removed for cause by the police jury appointing him. Failure or refusal by a commissioner to perform any or all of the duties prescribed by this Part shall be good cause for removal.

Amended by Acts 1966, No. 447, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2243 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2243
Petitions by authorities against claimants, contractors, and surety; preferential payment of claimants
Status: in_force

A. If at the expiration of the forty-five days any filed and recorded claims are unpaid, the public entity shall file a petition in the proper court of the parish where the work was done, citing all claimants and the contractor, subcontractor, and surety on the bond and asserting whatever claims it has against any of them, and shall require the claimants to assert their claims. If the governing authority fails to file the proceeding any claimant may do so.

B. All the claims shall be tried in concursus and the claims of the claimants shall be paid in preference to the claims of the public entity.

Acts 1991, No. 543, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1766 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1766
Officers of the board; fiscal agent
Status: in_force

A.(1) Immediately upon meeting, the board of commissioners shall proceed to organize by electing from among their number a president and a vice president. The president shall preside over all meetings of the board and perform all duties usually required of presidents of corporate bodies. The vice president shall perform the duties of the president in case of his absence or disability.

(2) The board shall elect a treasurer, who shall also serve as secretary. The secretary-treasurer shall receive a salary of not less than fifteen dollars nor more than two hundred dollars per month, to be fixed by the board. The secretary-treasurer shall maintain an office at the parish seat of each parish and shall keep the office open during business hours for the purpose of transacting the business of the district and for the convenience of the taxpayers thereof. The secretary-treasurer shall furnish bond in such amount and in the manner now provided by law for the faithful accounting of all funds turned over to him for the account of the district.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, the secretary-treasurer of the board of commissioners of Gravity Drainage District No. 1 of Rapides Parish shall receive a salary of not less than fifteen dollars nor more than five hundred dollars per month, to be fixed by the board.

B. The board shall also elect one of the solvent chartered banks of the state, and other things being equal, a bank situated in the drainage district or parish or parishes in which the district is situated, in which all funds shall be deposited, which bank shall pay interest at not less than three percent per annum, on daily balances. A fiscal agent may be chosen, who will materially aid the sale of the bonds of any drainage or subdrainage district, in which event, the fiscal agent may pay a lesser rate of interest or no interest at all.

Amended by Acts 1972, No. 116, §1; Acts 1975, No. 519, §1; Acts 1984, No. 172, §1; Acts 2001, No. 345, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2559 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2559
Rules and regulations
Status: in_force

In order to accomplish the purposes of the district, to protect the works, improvements and property of the district, both real and personal; to secure the best results from the construction, operation, and maintenance thereof, and to prevent damage to the district by the misuse of any works, improvements or properties or by the pollution or misuse of the waters of the district or any water course therein, the board of commissioners may make and enforce such rules and regulations as it shall deem necessary and advisable.

(1) To protect and preserve the works, improvements and properties owned or controlled by the district, prescribe the manner of their use by public corporations and persons, and preserve order within and adjacent thereto;

(2) To prescribe the manner of building bridges, roads, or fences or other works in, along or across any channel, reservoir or other construction of the district;

(3) To prescribe the manner in which ditches, sewers, pipelines or other works shall be adjusted to or connected with the works of the district or any water course therein and the manner in which the water courses of the district may be used for sewer outlets or for disposal of waste;

(4) To prescribe the permissible uses of the water supply, provided by the impoundment constructed as hereinafter set forth and to collect therefor and the manner of its distribution and to prevent the pollution or unnecessary waste of such water supply;

(5) To prohibit or regulate the discharge into sewers of the district of any liquid or solid waste deemed detrimental to the works and improvements of the district;

(6) To coordinate and cooperate with the state department of public works, and be guided by the plans and program of the said department, in the construction by the latter of a necessary and adequate dam and impoundment on Bayou D'Arbonne at or near Section 23, Township 20 North, Range 1 East, Union Parish, Louisiana;

(7) REPEALED BY ACTS 1993, NO. 830, §2.

Added by Acts 1956, No. 9, §9; Acts 1993, No. 830, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.236 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.236
Regulation of commercial establishments
Status: in_force

A. The board of commissioners may:

(1) Establish and cause to be enforced rules and regulations pertaining to all commercial establishments that may be constructed for the purpose of making commercial use of the lake or its facilities.

(2) License and permit such establishments and levy and collect a fee, to be fixed by the commission, for the privilege of making commercial use of the facilities of the lake.

B. The rules and regulations established and promulgated by the board of commissioners pursuant to this Section shall provide penalties for any commercial establishment operating without a permit or license.

Acts 2003, No. 328, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.59 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.59
Rules and regulations
Status: in_force

In order to accomplish the purposes of the district to manage and control water levels and the growth of aquatic plants and to protect the works, improvements, and property of the district, both immovable and movable, to secure the best results from the construction, operation, and maintenance thereof, and to prevent damage to the district by misuse of any works, improvements, or properties or by the pollution by solid or liquid substance or misuse of the waters of the district or any watercourse therein, the board of commissioners may make and enforce such rules and regulations as it shall deem necessary and advisable:

(1) To manage and control the water level and the growth of aquatic plants in the creek.

(2) To protect and preserve the works, improvements, and properties owned or controlled by the district, prescribe the manner of their use by public corporations and persons, and preserve order within and adjacent thereto.

(3) To prescribe the manner of building bridges, piers, boathouses, seawalls, roads, and fences, including fences for the control of livestock or other works in, along, or across any channel or extending into the creek.

(4) To prescribe the manner in which natural or artificial drains, ditches, sewers, pipelines, or other works shall be adjusted to or connected with the works of the district or any watercourse therein and the manner in which the watercourses of the district may be used for sewer outlets for disposal of waste.

(5) To prescribe the permissible uses of the water supply provided by the creek and to prevent the pollution or unnecessary waste of such water supply.

(6) To prescribe or regulate the discharge into sewers of the district of any liquid or solid waste deemed detrimental to the works and improvements of the district.

(7) To establish rules and regulations and cause them to be enforced with regard to activities engaged in upon Mill Creek which are not regulated by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.

Acts 1995, No. 443, §2, eff. June 17, 1995.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.272 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.272
Regulation of commercial establishments
Status: in_force

A. The board of commissioners shall have authority:

(1) To establish and cause to be enforced rules and regulations pertaining to all commercial establishments which may be constructed for the purpose of commercializing and making commercial use of water resources of the district or its facilities.

(2) To license and permit such establishments and to levy and collect a fee, to be fixed by the board, for the privilege of making commercial use of water resources of the district or its facilities.

B. Any person who violates the rules and regulations established and promulgated by the board of commissioners pursuant to this Section shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for more than sixty days, or both. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.

Acts 2003, No. 1228, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2877 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2877
Grant of state lands to district; right of mineral leases unabridged
Status: in_force

All lands purchased by the State Bond and Building Commission for the State of Louisiana, which are enclosed in the said area and which are necessary to the erection and maintenance of said Lake Claiborne are hereby granted to the Lake Claiborne Watershed District, as provided in R.S. 38:2864, for the purposes herein set out, but this grant shall in no wise abridge the right of the state to lease the said land for the production of oil, gas and other minerals under the general laws of the state as now provided.

Added by Acts 1966, No. 299, §17.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2244 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2244
Liability on bond; summary trial of objections to solvency and sufficiency of bond
Status: in_force

A. If no objections are made by any claimant to the solvency or sufficiency of the bond required of the contractor by this Part, the public entity shall, ten days after the service of judicial notice of the concursus proceeding on each claimant having recorded claims, obtain a certificate to that effect from the clerk of court. The certificate shall relieve the public entity of any personal liability and the recorder of mortgages shall cancel all of the recorded claims.

B. If any objections are made by the claimants they shall be tried summarily. Whenever it is found that the surety is not solvent or sufficient to cover the amount of the bond or that the public entity has failed to exact the bond or record the bond within the time allowed, the public entity shall be in default and shall be liable to the same extent as the surety would have been. The surety on the bond shall be limited to the defenses which the principal has on the bond.

Acts 1991, No. 543, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.11 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.11
Contracts let by board; bond
Status: in_force

Any and all contracts of the district shall be let by the board of commissioners under the provisions of the Public Bid Law, R.S. 38:2181 et seq.

Acts 1992, No. 888, §2, eff. July 8, 1992.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3005 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3005
Oaths
Status: in_force

Before entering upon his official duties, each commissioner of the district created hereby shall take and subscribe to an oath before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths, that he will honestly, faithfully and impartially perform the duties devolving upon him as a commissioner of said district and that he will not neglect any of the duties imposed upon him hereby. The oaths of the commissioner shall be recorded in the oath book of Jackson Parish and Bienville Parish.

Added by Acts 1970, No. 600, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2227 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2227
Exclusion of certain contractors from bidding
Status: in_force

A. Each public entity advertising and letting for bid a public works contract shall require the lowest bidder, in addition to the provisions of R.S. 38:2212(A)(3)(c)(ii), after the opening of bids, if a sole proprietor, to attest that he has not been convicted of, or has not entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any of the crimes or equivalent federal crimes listed in Subsection B of this Section. The lowest bidding entity shall submit an attestation that no individual partner, incorporator, director, manager, officer, organizer, or member, who has a minimum of a ten percent ownership in the bidding entity, has been convicted of, or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any of the crimes or equivalent federal crimes listed in Subsection B of this Section.

B.(1) A conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to the following state crimes or equivalent federal crimes shall permanently bar any person or the bidding entity from bidding on public projects:

(a) Public bribery (R.S. 14:118).

(b) Corrupt influencing (R.S. 14:120).

(c) Extortion (R.S. 14:66).

(d) Money laundering (R.S. 14:230).

(2) A conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to the following state crimes or equivalent federal crimes shall bar any person or the bidding entity from bidding on public projects for a period of five years from the date of conviction or from the date of the entrance of the plea of guilty or nolo contendere:

(a) Theft (R.S. 14:67).

(b) Identity Theft (R.S. 14:67.16).

(c) Theft of a business record (R.S. 14:67.20).

(d) False accounting (R.S. 14:70).

(e) Issuing worthless checks (R.S. 14:71).

(f) Bank fraud (R.S. 14:71.1).

(g) Forgery (R.S. 14:72).

(h) Contractors; misapplication of payments (R.S. 14:202).

(i) Malfeasance in office (R.S. 14:134).

C. The five-year prohibition provided for in Paragraph (B)(2) of this Section shall apply only if the crime was committed during the solicitation or execution of a contract or bid awarded pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 10 of this Title.

D.(1) The provisions of this Section shall not impose a duty, responsibility, or requirement on a public entity to perform criminal background checks on contractors, vendors, or subcontractors. It shall be the responsibility of any person, company, or entity making an allegation of false attestation to present prima facie proof to the public entity supporting their claim.

(2) If evidence is submitted substantiating that a false attestation has been made and the project must be readvertised or the contract cancelled, the awarded entity making the false attestation shall be responsible to the public entity for the costs of rebidding, additional costs due to increased costs of bids and any and all delay costs due to the rebid or cancellation of the contract.

(3) The requirements of this Section and any attestations made shall apply to convictions and pleas entered prior to the awarding of contracts.

Acts 2010, No. 945, §1, eff. July 2, 2010; Acts 2012, No. 598, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1580.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1580.1
Subdrainage districts
Status: in_force

A. The governing authority of Jefferson Parish may form one or more subdrainage districts out of the territory comprising a consolidated drainage district, by ordinance to that effect, defining the limits of the subdrainage district. The subdrainage district may be enlarged or diminished and the boundaries thereof changed by the governing authority, by ordinance to that effect.

B. The subdrainage district so created shall be designated as "Subdrainage District _________ of Consolidated Drainage District No. ___ of the Parish of Jefferson" and any subdrainage district so created shall constitute a special district within the meaning of Article VI, Section 19 of the Constitution of Louisiana, shall be a political subdivision of this state, and enjoy all rights, powers, and privileges enjoyed by other drainage districts under the constitution and laws of this state, including the right to issue bonds and levy taxes and special assessments.

C. After the creation of any subdrainage district, notice of the creation, stating the boundaries of the district, shall be published one time in the official journal of the parish. Thirty days after such publication, the creation of the subdrainage district shall become incontestable, and no court shall have jurisdiction to entertain litigation questioning the legality of the creation of such district.

D. The governing authority of the parish of Jefferson shall be the governing authority of any subdistrict created hereunder.

Acts 1993, No. 77, §1, eff. May 26, 1993.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.82 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.82
Individual mineral leases unabridged
Status: in_force

The provisions of this Part shall in no way abridge the right of any individual, person, firm, or corporation from whom a servitude or right of use may have been acquired to lease the land subject thereto for the production of oil, gas, or other minerals and to produce or cause to be produced oil, gas, or other minerals from such property so long as said leases are subject to the terms and conditions of the servitude executed in favor of the commission.

Acts 1995, No. 345, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:90.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 90.1
Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this Chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as follows:

(1) "Authority" means a parish or municipality, or both, authorized by law to perform governmental functions and any special district created for the purpose of drainage and/or flood control.

(2) "Bond commission" means the State Bond Commission or any other entity authorized to approve and/or issue bonds for a municipality, including without limitation, the Board of Liquidation, City Debt, which is the appropriate bond commission for the city of New Orleans and the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans.

(3) "Committee" means the Joint Legislative Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

(4) "Council" means the Legislative Audit Advisory Council.

(5) "Engineering activities" means functions which may include, but not be limited to, dams, reservoirs, levees, dikes, floodwalls, diversions, channel alterations such as snagging and channel straightening, on site detention, spillways, and land treatment.

(6) "Evaluation committee" means the Flood Control Project Evaluation Committee.

(7) "Municipal drainage authority" means the city of New Orleans and any special district or board located in such municipality, including but not limited to the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, created for the purpose of drainage and/or flood control.

(8) "Office" means the office of engineering of the Department of Transportation and Development.

(9) "Program" means the flood control system which may include, but not be limited to, floodproofing, waterproofing, ring dikes, relocation assistance, information programs, formulation of codes, and engineering studies.

(10) "Project" means a program or engineering activity, either new or continuing, exclusive of modifications to drainage structures located within state highway rights-of-way, that will be planned and implemented with the primary goal being the reduction of existing flood damages.

(11) "Rural grant opportunity authority" means a municipality with a population of fewer than five thousand people or a parish with a population of fewer than fifty thousand people located in a rural area.

(12) "Rural Grant Opportunity Program" means a mechanism for a rural grant opportunity authority located in a rural area that lacks the financial ability to satisfy the local match requirements to participate in the Statewide Flood Control Program.

(13) "State highway right-of-way" means a right-of-way for highway purposes acquired by the state in full ownership or by servitude or easement and on which is located a roadway which is included in the state highway system.

Added by Acts 1982, No. 351, §1; Acts 1983, No. 696, §1. Acts 1984, No. 519, §1; Acts 1995, No. 607, §1, eff. June 18, 1995; Acts 1999, No. 999, §1, eff. July 9, 1999; Acts 2006, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 6, §4; Acts 2011, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 5, §1; Acts 2012, No. 753, §5; Acts 2018, No. 384, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1596.14 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1596.14
Prescriptive period to question validity of proceedings
Status: in_force

No contest or proceedings to question the validity or legality of any resolutions or ordinances adopted or proceedings undertaken under the provisions of this Part shall be initiated in any court by any person for any cause whatsoever after the expiration of thirty days from the date when the resolution, ordinance, or proceeding was published, and after such time the regularity of such resolution, ordinance, or proceeding shall be conclusively presumed. If the validity of any certificates issued under the provisions of this Part is not raised within thirty days from date of publication of the resolution or ordinance issuing the certificates and fixing their terms, the authority to issue the certificates, the legality thereof, and the legality of the local or special assessments necessary to pay the same shall be conclusively presumed, and no court shall thereafter have authority to inquire into such matters.

Acts 1985, No. 979, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.125 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.125
Playgrounds, parks, and other facilities
Status: in_force

The board of commissioners shall have the power to cause to be created and constructed playgrounds, picnic grounds, grounds for recreation, parks, and any and all other facilities to accommodate the public and to provide adequate access to the lake, as may within the opinion of the board become necessary.

Acts 1999, No. 588, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1793 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1793
Adjudication of property to state for non-payment of taxes; resale and conveyance
Status: in_force

If in the enforcement of the collection of the acreage tax or forced contribution assessed against the lands within a gravity drainage district or gravity sub-drainage district, it becomes necessary to sell the property for the payment of the acreage tax or forced contribution, and the entire property thus offered fails to sell at an amount sufficient to pay the acreage tax or forced contribution, together with the state and other taxes assessed thereon, the sheriff of the parish in which the property is situated shall adjudicate the land to the State and when the adjudication is made, then the Register of the State Land Office shall immediately take possession of the lands in the name of the state and lease or rent the lands. As soon as one year in which the property can be redeemed expires, then the register shall offer the land for sale and sell it either at public or private sale for the best price obtainable. It shall not be sold for less than all taxes or forced contribution due thereon, together with interest and penalties. Any conveyance made by the Register of the State Land Office of the property after the period of redemption has expired, to-wit: twelve months from the date of the recording of the act of adjudication to the state shall convey a good and valid title to the purchaser, and all prescriptive statutes enacted in favor of the sales shall apply with equal force to any tax adjudication under this statute. All bonds issued under the constitution and laws of Louisiana and especially under the provisions of this Part, shall be protected by all the guarantees herein set forth and shall constitute a valid and binding contract which shall be enforceable before any court of competent jurisdiction.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2319.5 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2319.5
Selection of nonprofit lessor; award of lease
Status: in_force

A lease-purchase contract with a nonprofit lessor for one or more pieces of selected equipment may be executed between the local governmental entity and a nonprofit lessor through competitive negotiation, provided that a notice stating the estimated principal amount of any proposed lease, the equipment to be leased, the interest rate factor to be computed in the lease payments, and the date, time, and place of the execution of the proposed lease shall be published in the official journal of the local governmental entity at least twice within a fifteen-day period before such execution date with the last publication at least seven days prior to the proposed execution date. Any nonprofit lessor may submit a proposal to be lessor under the lease. The nonprofit lessor submitting the proposal most advantageous to the local governmental entity shall be selected as lessor under the equipment-lease-purchase contract. Publication of the notice shall be the responsibility of the local governmental entity.

Acts 1985, No. 758, §1, eff. July 17, 1985.

{{NOTE: SEE ACTS 1985, NO. 758, §§5 AND 6.}}
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2827 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2827
Election of officers; record book; public inspection
Status: in_force

Immediately after the commissioners have been appointed by the Police Jury of Caddo Parish, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the commissioners shall meet and immediately organize by electing officers as follows: They shall elect from among their number a president, who shall preside over the meetings of the board and perform such other duties as are usually required of presidents of corporate bodies, and also a vice president, who shall perform the duties of the president in case of his absence or disability.

The board shall cause to be kept a well-bound book entitled "Record Book of Black Bayou Watershed District", in which shall be recorded the minutes of all meetings, all proceedings, certificates, oaths of commissioners, bonds of employees and contractors, and any and all corporate acts. The records shall be in the possession of the secretary of the board and shall be open to public inspection at all times by any person interested.

Added by Acts 1966, No. 262, §7.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1999 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1999
Classes of lands or sub-drainage districts
Status: in_force

The board of commissioners may divide the lands in the Lafourche Basin Levee and Drainage District into classes or sub-drainage districts, and tax, locally assess, and impose forced contributions and acreage taxes on the lands in the classes or sub-drainage districts in proportion to the benefits derived by the land from the drainage. All lands in the same class or sub-drainage districts shall pay an equal tax, local assessment, enforced contribution or acreage taxes.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:354 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 354
Prayer of petition; ex parte order of expropriation
Status: in_force

The petition shall conclude with a prayer that the property be declared expropriated for levee purposes. Upon presentation of the petition, the court shall issue an order directing that the amount of the estimate be deposited in the registry of the court and declaring that the property described in the petition has been expropriated for levee purposes at the time of the deposit.

Acts 1985, No. 785, §1, eff. July 22, 1985.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.116 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.116
Election of officers
Status: in_force

Immediately after the members of the board of commissioners have been appointed, or as soon as thereafter is practicable, they shall meet and organize by electing from their number a president, vice president, and secretary who shall perform the duties normally required of such officers.

Acts 1999, No. 588, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.213 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.213
Composition
Status: in_force

A. The initial membership of the commission shall be composed of the existing members of the organization known as the Morehouse Parish Lake Commission who are members as of August 15, 2003, and shall serve staggered terms as follows:

(1) Four members shall serve six-year terms.

(2) Three members shall serve three-year terms.

(3) Three members shall serve one-year terms.

B. After the initial terms of the commissioners pursuant to Subsection A of this Section, the commission shall consist of ten members, all qualified electors of the state of Louisiana and residing in Morehouse Parish, who shall be appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the Louisiana Senate, for terms of six years or until their successors have been named and qualified, as follows:

(1) Three members shall be appointed from a list of persons submitted by the police jury of Morehouse Parish for a six-year term.

(2) Two members shall be appointed from a list of persons submitted by the parish legislative delegation for a six-year term.

(3) Two members shall be appointed from a list of persons submitted by the board of aldermen of the city of Bastrop with one of those appointees being a resident of the city of Bastrop for a six-year term.

(4) Three members shall be appointed by the governor for a six-year term.

C. Vacancies occurring before the expiration of a full term shall be filled by the governor from a list of persons recommended by the authority which made the original recommendation.

Acts 2003, No. 233, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1795 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1795
Expenses of surveys; change in acreage tax; joint enterprise
Status: in_force

All expenses for preliminary surveys to determine the cost of draining, shall be advanced by the land owners petitioning the drainage commissioners for drainage, and shall be reimbursed to the owners by the drainage commission out of any funds realized from the sale of bonds if the drainage of the lands is proceeded with as contemplated in this Part. The total cost of all legal expenses incurred in organizing a drainage or subdrainage district and issuing bonds therefor shall never exceed one and one-half per centum of the total bond issue, where the bond issue is less than three hundred thousand dollars, and shall not exceed one per cent where the bond issue is three hundred thousand dollars or more. The cost and expenses for engineering work for the survey, designs, plans, specifications, assistance in letting contracts, the general supervision and final inspection of the work shall not exceed six per cent of the cost of the drainage work; except that special services for work beyond the above enumerated usual engineering services may be reimbursed to the engineer. The acreage tax may be increased or diminished from time to time as the needs of the district may require but the amount thereof shall not exceed the amount voted. No tax which secured an issue of bonds shall be reduced or diminished before the bonds are fully paid. The governing authorities of gravity drainage districts and gravity subdrainage districts may contract and agree with other gravity drainage districts or gravity subdrainage districts, and drainage districts, and subdrainage districts, organized under Article XV of the Constitution of Louisiana for the year 1921 and with municipal corporations, to undertake and complete as a joint enterprise, works which are of mutual benefit, but the proportion which each gravity drainage district, gravity subdrainage district, drainage district, subdrainage district, or municipal corporation, shall contribute shall be determined in advance. The work so jointly undertaken shall belong to the gravity drainage district, gravity subdrainage district, drainage district, or subdrainage district and municipality contributing to the construction thereof, in proportion to the contribution. The governing authorities of gravity drainage districts and gravity subdrainage districts may submit to the voters the question of the construction of drainage works as a joint enterprise with the municipalities or other gravity drainage districts, gravity subdrainage districts, drainage districts, and subdrainage districts, and also to submit to the voters the question of constructing the drainage works in connection with the construction of other improvements, but the authority to submit these questions shall not deprive the governing authority of the power to act without submitting the question.

Amended by Acts 1958, No. 334, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:416 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 416
Assessors to prepare duplicate list of producers
Status: in_force

A. The assessor of each parish wholly or in part within the limits of one of the levee districts or levee and drainage districts of the state shall make out and complete on or before the first day of June of each year a duplicate list containing the names of all producers of articles subject in the parish for which he is assessor to the special assessment or forced contribution in the crop year preceding the first day of June and showing also the number of acres cultivated by each producer and in what cultivated, and the number of thousand pounds of sugar, hogsheads of sugar, barrels or sacks of sugar, bales of cotton, barrels of molasses, barrels of syrup, sacks of rice, sacks and barrels of esculents, and barrels of oranges produced by each producer.

B. For performing the duties imposed by this Section the assessor shall receive a reasonable compensation to be fixed and paid by the levee board or levee and drainage board within whose limit the parish of the assessor is situated. The assessor shall file one of the lists in the office of the clerk of court of the parish and shall transmit the other to the secretary of the levee board or levee and drainage board of the district in which his parish is situated on or before the fifteenth day of June of each year.

Acts 1985, No. 785, §1, eff. July 22, 1985.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2194 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2194
Exemptions
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to purchases of natural gas by political subdivisions.

Acts 1987, No. 793, §1, eff. July 17, 1987.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.222 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.222
Location
Status: in_force

The district shall be comprised of the area of Lake St. Joseph and the Black River Area and all of the land encompassed by Louisiana Highways 605 and 608 surrounding Lake St. Joseph and the Black River Area.

Acts 2003, No. 328, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:109 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 109
Coordination and cooperation
Status: in_force

A. It is the policy of this Chapter that the Lower Atchafalaya interim flood protection projects be pursued so that there is full coordination and cooperation between all federal and state entities that have complementing or overlapping interests and authority in the projects. The chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board or the executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority may coordinate all of the state and local governmental aspects of the projects so that there is an orderly development of the project.

B. The chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board or the executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority may call upon the cities of Morgan City and Berwick, and all other commissions and districts and state agencies, departments, and political subdivisions of the state for full and complete cooperation and assistance in carrying out the provisions of this Chapter, and all such entities are hereby directed and it shall be their duty to cooperate and assist the department to the fullest extent possible.

Acts 1997, No. 698, §1, eff. July 7, 1997; Acts 2009, No. 523, §2, eff. July 10, 2009; Acts 2012, No. 604, §2, eff. June 7, 2012.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1543 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1543
Acreage tax or forced contribution
Status: in_force

The board of commissioners of the drainage district or sub-drainage district, so long as any of the bonds are outstanding shall, in addition to all other taxes, annually levy, assess, and order the collection of, until the funding or refunding bonds are fully paid, an acreage tax or forced contribution against each acre of land in the drainage district or sub-drainage district, as the case may be, or on each acre of land as specified in the petition of the property owners in an amount sufficient to pay the bonds in principal and interest, plus ten percent for emergencies. The acreage tax or forced contributions shall not exceed two dollars and fifty cents per acre per annum. The levy of the acreage tax shall be a tax lien on the land against which it is assessed.

The secretary of the drainage district or sub-drainage district shall prepare each year a tax assessment book assessing the annual tax, and shall file a copy of the book with the clerk of court and recorder and a copy with the sheriff and tax collector of each parish in which any lands so assessed with and liable for the acreage tax are situated. The acreage tax shall be collected and payment enforced in the same manner provided for the collection of other taxes.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.64 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.64
Tax exemption; mineral leases unabridged
Status: in_force

Should the district or the Department of Transportation and Development acquire a servitude, right of use, or title in full ownership to immovable property or any other property, such property shall not be subject to any ad valorem tax or tax of any nature by the state of Louisiana or any political subdivision thereof so long as such property is used for the purpose of the district. The provisions of this Part shall in no way abridge the right of any individual, person, firm, or corporation from whom a servitude or right of use may have been acquired to lease the land subject thereto for the production of oil, gas, or other minerals and to produce or cause to be produced oil, gas, or other minerals from such property so long as said leases are subject to the terms and conditions of the servitude executed in favor of the commission.

Acts 1995, No. 443, §2, eff. June 17, 1995.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1778 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1778
Manner of voting
Status: in_force

Each voter's name shall be written on his ballot. The commissioners of election shall receive the ballot of each voter, check his name on the list of voters furnished by the registrar as having voted, enter and number his name on the list of taxpayers voting, and immediately deposit his ballot in the ballot box, reserving to each voter the right to so fold his ballot that it shall not be known at the time of voting whether he voted for or against the proposition or propositions submitted.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:393 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 393
Grant as additional authority
Status: in_force

The right to take possession and title in advance of final judgment as provided herein is in addition to any right or authority conferred by the laws of this state under which expropriation or appropriation proceedings may be conducted and shall not be construed as abrogating, eliminating, or modifying any such right or authority.

Acts 1985, No. 785, §1, eff. July 22, 1985.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1904 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1904
Procedure
Status: in_force

In any case where it becomes necessary, or it is desired, by the governing authority of any gravity drainage district or sub-drainage district to exercise the authority granted by R.S. 38:1903, the governing authority shall first cause to be made, by its supervising engineer or other competent engineer, an estimate of the work already done on the system of drainage which has been adopted, and if it be found by the estimate that eighty per cent, or more, of the system has been completed, the governing authority shall authorize, by proper ordinance, the creation of an additional indebtedness and shall levy an additional ad valorem or acreage tax or forced contribution, and fund the tax into bonds, for the purpose of perfecting and completing the system of gravity drainage, or of paying any indebtedness incurred or to be incurred in completing the system, not to exceed, however, twenty per cent of the total cost of the system of drainage. All other or further procedure for this purpose, shall be as provided by law for the creation of indebtedness, the levying of taxes and forced contributions and the funding of taxes into bonds by gravity districts or gravity sub-drainage districts for gravity drainage purposes, except that it shall not be necessary to submit the proposition to the vote of the property taxpayers.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2220.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2220.3
Procedures; notification to attorney general; requirements
Status: in_force

A. Prior to initiation of the civil action, the complainant shall inform the attorney general of the alleged violation and all direct information he possesses regarding the alleged violation. The information shall be sent to the attorney general by certified mail, return receipt requested, within fifteen days from the date of discovery of the alleged violation by the complainant.

B. The attorney general may conduct an investigation or take other actions as deemed appropriate, including after investigation the institution of a civil action authorized in R.S. 38:2220.2.

C. If the attorney general does not initiate a civil action within thirty days from the date of receipt of information concerning the alleged violation, the complainant may initiate the civil action. The attorney general may thereafter intervene in the action as provided by law.

D. The attorney general shall maintain the confidentiality of all information provided to his office by the complainant. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the complaint and information sent to the attorney general shall not be subject to discovery or become public record until service of a civil action instituted under the provisions of this Section has been made upon a defendant.

Acts 1999, No. 1050, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2704 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2704
Board of commissioners, appointment; tenure; vacancies; compensation
Status: in_force

A. The district shall be governed and controlled by a board of seven commissioners, each of whom shall be a qualified elector of Red River Parish residing within and owning property within the district. The members of the board of commissioners shall be appointed by the governor for a five year term. Any vacancy in the office of commissioner due to death, resignation, or any other cause shall be filled by the governor for the unexpired term.

B. Members of the board of commissioners shall receive no compensation for their services. The board shall be domiciled at Coushatta, Louisiana.

C. Each appointment by the governor shall be submitted to the Senate for confirmation.

Added by Acts 1958, No. 474, §4; Amended by Acts 1966, No. 448, §4; Acts 1985, No. 834, §1, eff. July 23, 1985; Acts 1989, No. 176, §1; Acts 1990, No. 146, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2195 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2195
Prohibited provisions
Status: in_force

A. It is hereby declared that any provision contained in a public contract, other than a provision naming another as a coinsured or additional beneficiary in a contract of insurance, which requires a public entity to assume liability for damages arising out of injuries or property damage to the contracting parties or to third parties caused by the negligence of anyone other than the public body, its employees, or agents, is contrary to the public policy of the state of Louisiana. Any and all such provisions in any and all public contracts issued on or after October 1, 1988, are null and void.

B. It is hereby declared that any provision contained in a public contract, other than a provision naming another as a coinsured or additional beneficiary in a contract of insurance, which requires a contracting private party to assume liability for damages arising out of injuries or property damage to a public entity caused by the negligence of anyone other than the contracting private party, its employees, or agents, is contrary to the public policy of the state of Louisiana. Any and all such provisions in any and all public contracts shall be null and void.

C. The provisions of this Section shall be inapplicable with respect to intrastate intergovernmental contracts and to contracts with private providers for the placement and care of persons in the custody of the state.

D. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to contracts between any public entity and the owner of immovable property when the purpose of the contract is to grant the public entity a servitude, right of way, or other authority to go upon, construct works, perform activities, or otherwise exercise control over or use the owner's property.

Acts 1991, No. 734, §1; Acts 1991, No. 1044, §1; Acts 2023, No. 379, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:82 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 82
Governor authorized to accept lands under federal flood control act
Status: in_force

The governor may accept, for and in behalf of Louisiana, lands from the United States Government, as provided by Sections 3 and 4 of the Flood Control Act passed by the Seventieth Congress and approved on May 15th, 1928, 1 under terms and conditions mutually agreed upon by the authorized representatives of the United States Government and himself.

1 33 U.S.C.A. §§702c, 702d.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1992 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1992
Right of parishes to create drainage districts; refusal of parish to join
Status: in_force

Nothing in this Part shall be construed as abridging or affecting in any respect and there is hereby specially reserved to the parishes of Ouachita, Morehouse, and Richland and the property owners and the resident landowners of the parishes, and any part thereof, the right to organize, create, and maintain drainage districts and subdrainage districts, with all the privileges, powers, authority, and functions provided and conferred by the Constitution and general laws of Louisiana on the subject. Nothing in this Part shall be construed as abridging or affecting in any respect the right of either of the parishes acting in the interest of the property owners of the parish to refuse to join in and become a part of the levee and drainage district.

Amended by Acts 1952, No. 127, §13.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.43 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.43
Mineral rights
Status: in_force

Whenever it shall become necessary for the district or the Department of Transportation and Development to acquire full ownership of any land for the purpose of constructing any work or facility within the district, the owner thereof in his own behalf or in behalf of his assigns in the event of a prior assignment may retain the mineral rights to such property together with the right to grant mineral leases and servitudes thereon. No form of prescription shall divest such owner or his assigns of these rights so long as the district or a department or agency of the state retains the ownership of the property, but should ownership pass into private hands, the prescription of nonuse provided by R.S. 31:27 shall apply as in the usual case.

Acts 1995, No. 443, §1, eff. June 17, 1995.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1660 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1660
Consolidation of adjacent districts
Status: in_force

Any two or more adjacent drainage districts organized or reorganized under the provisions of this Part, whether in the same or different parishes, may be united and consolidated into one drainage district and the new district and the board of commissioners thereof shall have all of the rights, powers, privileges, and duties of any other drainage district created and organized under this Part.

In order to effect the consolidation, the land owners owning a majority of the acreage in each of the drainage districts shall present a joint petition to that effect approved by the board of commissioners and the chief engineers of the drainage districts to the police jury of the parish in which the districts are situated, or if they are situated in more than one parish, then to the policy jury of the parish in which the majority of land in the proposed consolidated district is situated. The petition shall also contain a statement showing the names and boundaries of the original districts, the name and boundaries of the proposed consolidated district, and shall be accompanied by a certificate as to land owners and acreage as provided in R.S. 38:1604, and the approval of the board of state engineers as provided in R.S. 38:1605.

The police jury shall adopt an ordinance creating the consolidated drainage district and appointing commissioners therefor in the same manner as provided in this Part for creating original drainage districts. The ordinance shall be recorded by the clerk of court and recorder of each parish in which is situated any land in the consolidated drainage district in the drainage district record of his office.

The consolidated drainage district shall then be subject in all respects to the provisions of this Part, and all of the lands and property in the new district shall be subject to the same liens, liabilities, and obligations that may have existed against the lands and property in the original districts composing the new district.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1622 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1622
Petitions to proceed with work
Status: in_force

Upon the adoption and filing of the plan for reclamation, the owners of a majority in acres of the lands in the drainage district if they desire to proceed with the work of reclaiming the drainage district, or the owners of a majority in acres of the lands in any subdrainage district, if they desire to proceed with the work of reclaiming the lands in the sub-drainage district, may respectively present a petition to that effect to the board of commissioners of the drainage district, signed by the landowners. When so petitioned, the board of commissioners of the drainage district shall proceed with the reclamation of the district or sub-district, the incurring of debt, the issuance of bonds, and the levy, assessment, and collection of taxes as hereinafter provided.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.355 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.355
Playgrounds, parks, and other facilities
Status: in_force

The board of commissioners may cause to be created and constructed playgrounds, picnic grounds, grounds for recreation, parks, and any and all other facilities to accommodate the public and to provide adequate access to the lake, as may, within the opinion of the board, become necessary. The board of commissioners shall also provide for the construction of public access boat ramps in the district to allow for and maintain public access to Lake St. John for recreational purposes.

Acts 2005, No. 214, §1, eff. June 29, 2005.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2701 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2701
Creation
Status: in_force

There is hereby created a recreation and water conservation district to be known as the "John K. Kelly Grand Bayou Reservoir District".

Acts 1958, No. 474, §1; Acts 1989, No. 176, §1; Acts 1993, No. 120, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1680 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1680
St. Mary Parish; powers of districts; bonds; taxes
Status: in_force

A. All drainage districts within the parish of St. Mary heretofore or hereafter created under the provisions of this Part shall have and are hereby vested with full power and authority, acting through their governing authorities, to:

(1) Drain and reclaim lands in said drainage districts by the construction, maintenance and operation of gravity and forced drainage facilities, including canals, ditches, pumps, levees and other related works.

(2) Incur debt and issue bonds for the purpose of constructing drainage works and acquiring the necessary lands, equipment and machinery therefor. Said bonds shall be secured by and payable from ad valorem taxation and may be issued to an amount not exceeding ten percent of the assessed valuation of the taxable property of such districts in the manner provided for the issuance of bonds by other political subdivisions under Subpart A, Part III, Chapter 4, Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 and other constitutional and statutory authority supplemental thereto. Such bonds shall be issued only after being approved at an election ordered by the board of commissioners of the drainage district and held in accordance with the provisions of Part II, Chapter 4, Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

(3)(a) Levy special taxes on all the property within such drainage districts for the purpose of maintaining, operating, constructing, and improving the drainage works in such drainage districts in the manner provided by the constitution and laws of this state after having been authorized to do so at a special election held in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and laws of this state.

(b) Levy and impose a charge for the purpose of maintaining, operating, constructing, and improving drainage works within such districts, such charge to be imposed on a per acre basis, provided that prior to levying such charge, the governing authority shall give notice of intention by publication of a notice once a week for three consecutive weeks in its official journal, and shall thereafter hold a public hearing on the question of whether the governing authority should levy an acreage charge for the duration and in the amount set forth in the notice of intention. In the event a petition is received in opposition to the levy bearing the signatures of fifty or more adult residents of the district, such levy shall not be authorized without the consent of a majority of the electorate voting at an election held in such district in accordance with the election laws of this state. Any such charge authorized shall be levied by the governing authority of the district against each acre of land within the boundaries of the district, and the assessor of St. Mary Parish shall assess each parcel of property within the district and shall prepare an assessment roll in triplicate and shall provide a copy to the clerk of court and a copy to the tax collector of the parish and one copy to the governing authority of the district. The acreage of each parcel may be determined by land surveying or may be determined by controlled serial photography and computer digitalization, performed in accordance with the United States National Map Accuracy Standards for photography at a scale of one inch to one hundred feet. The charge shall be due and payable annually at the same time as property taxes and the charge shall be collected in the same manner as taxes are collected by tax collectors as set forth in R.S. 38:1635.

(c) As provided in R.S. 38:1635, all laws now in force or that may hereafter be enacted, providing for, regulating, and governing the collection of state and parish taxes and the creation of tax liens, penalties, methods, and procedures for sales for delinquent taxes shall also apply to regulate and govern the collection of the charges authorized to be imposed or levied under the provisions of this Part and the charges shall be collected through the sheriff and ex officio tax collector for the parish or parishes in which may be situated the lands of the district at the same time and in the same manner that he collects the state and parish taxes, and the revenues from the charges shall be by him turned over to the secretary-treasurer of the drainage district.

(4) Expropriate property for the purpose of acquiring sites for pumping stations and land for any other necessary public purposes of the drainage districts; provided, however, the drainage districts shall not have the right to expropriate minerals or mineral rights.

(5) Acquire machinery and maintain pumping plants or any machinery whatever that may be found necessary for the purpose of draining or reclaiming any of the lands embraced within the drainage districts.

(6) Cut and open any drains and canals and open, deepen and enlarge natural drains within or without the drainage districts and perform all work in connection therewith which may be deemed necessary to provide drainage for lands in the drainage districts, and perform all other acts necessary to drain the land in the drainage districts and maintain the drainage when established.

(7) To cooperate with and enter into cooperative agreements and arrangements with agencies of the United States of America, the State of Louisiana and its various departments and political subdivisions, on a matching fund or any other basis in any drainage and reclamation projects. Purchase servitudes and rights-of-way for their own uses or for the use of any state or federal agency with which they may cooperate in connection with some work of improvement.

(8) Accept gifts and grants of money, property or services.

(9) Extend canals or ditches or both canals and ditches beyond the limits of the drainage districts but within the boundaries of St. Mary Parish for the purpose of securing a proper outlet for the waters of the drainage districts.

B. The authority herein granted may be exercised and the works of improvement herein authorized may be constructed within or without the limits of the districts so long as they inure to the direct benefit of the districts and the inhabitants thereof.

C. The powers, rights and authority granted by this section shall be in addition to any powers now or hereafter conferred on drainage districts by the provisions of this part and shall not be limited or restricted by any other provisions of said part, and in particular the provisions of R.S. 38:1678.

Added by Acts 1974, No. 580, §1; Acts 1992, No. 126, §1, eff. June 5, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 511, §1, eff. June 22, 1992.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1773 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1773
Use of funds collected from taxes
Status: in_force

Taxes, whether ad valorem or forced contributions or acreage taxes, shall only be levied and debt shall only be incurred and negotiable bonds issued to construct gravity drainage works for the district or subdistrict or to readjust, refund, extend, or unify the bonded indebtedness of the district or subdistrict and to support or secure the payment of the bonds, and for no other purposes. The title to the works shall be in the district.

The provisions of this Part relative to incurring debt and issuing bonds for the purpose of readjusting, refunding, extending or unifying any outstanding indebtedness of the district or subdistrict to be secured by an acreage tax or forced contribution, are not intended to repeal or otherwise affect any legislation that may hereafter be enacted relating to the same subject matter, but shall be construed as an additional method for readjusting, refunding, extending or unifying any outstanding indebtedness of the district or subdistrict to be secured by an acreage tax or forced contribution.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1594 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1594
Prescriptive period to question validity of proceedings
Status: in_force

No contest or proceedings to question the validity or legality of any resolutions or ordinances adopted or proceedings undertaken under the provisions of this Part shall be initiated in any court by any person for any cause whatsoever after the expiration of thirty days from the date when the resolution, ordinance, or proceeding was published, and after such time the regularity of such resolution, ordinance, or proceeding shall be conclusively presumed. If the validity of any certificates issued under the provisions of this Part is not raised within thirty days from date of publication of the resolution or ordinance issuing said certificates and fixing their terms, the authority to issue said certificates, the legality thereof, and the legality of the local or special assessments necessary to pay the same shall be conclusively presumed, and no court shall thereafter have authority to inquire into such matters.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 708, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3057 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3057
Technical assistance
Status: in_force

In addition, and subject to the availability of funds, pursuant to a local services agreement between the commission and the parish of East Baton Rouge and the city of Baton Rouge, the commission may employ experts and consultants for such technical assistance as may be required or deemed necessary in order to secure appropriate facts and information and to make recommendations relevant to the preventive or remedial steps which may be required to protect existing ground water levels, the prevention of depletion and effects thereof, with particular emphasis on conditions detrimental to the ground water supply from salt water encroachment.

Added by Acts 1970, No. 682, §7.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:81 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 81
Governor authorized to enter into contracts with federal authorities
Status: in_force

A. The governor on behalf of the state or any state board, commission, agency, body politic or political subdivision or any section of the state may make and execute with any person, including the secretary of the army, the chief of engineers of the United States Army, or any other authorized representative of the federal government, any contract, agreement, arrangement, or undertaking, transaction, designed, or intended to carry out, effect, accomplish, or secure the benefits and obligations of any state or federal law, now existing or hereafter enacted, with respect to the control of flood waters, the navigation or use of the rivers flowing through this state or the reclamation, reforestation, soil preservation or protection and development of any lands, areas, or property situated in this state, the establishment of game sanctuaries, animal refuges, agricultural experimental or development projects, the development of our waterways, lowlands, drainage areas, storage basins, reservoirs, spillways, floodways, diversion channels for flood waters and areas, and all similar undertakings, whether specifically mentioned herein or not. The governor shall see to it that the interests of the state and its subdivisions, the rights and interests of its citizens and their property are adequately safeguarded and protected, as far as may be.

B. Whenever the governor acts on behalf of any state board, commission, political subdivision, or body politic, he shall transmit a copy of the written evidence of the agreement or contract certified by the secretary of state to the official custodian of the records of the board, commission, agency, or authority who shall file and record it in the records of its official proceedings. The agreement shall then become binding and effective upon the body or agency as if duly and regularly considered, authorized, adopted, executed, and ratified by the body or agency.

C. The governor may utilize to whatever extent they are empowered by law to function the various levee boards or boards of levee commissioners of this state, the Department of Transportation and Development, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board, or any other state board, commission, agency, or political subdivision. These authorities shall, to the fullest extent of their capacity, fully cooperate and coordinate their efforts under his direction in carrying out and accomplishing the obligations and requirements of the agreements and undertakings.

Amended by Acts 1952, No. 127, §13; Acts 2009, No. 523, §2, eff. July 10, 2009; Acts 2012, No. 604, §2, eff. June 7, 2012.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2562 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2562
Execution of work; contracts; bond
Status: in_force

The state department of public works may execute any and all work with its own force and equipment and under its own supervision or the work may be executed on behalf of and for the benefit of the said district by the state of Louisiana, or any agency, department or commission thereof by contract and the contract for all or any part of the work herein authorized may be let by the state department of public works, with or without advertisement, on the terms and subject to the conditions which the said department may determine. The person or firm to whom the contract or contracts is awarded shall furnish, within the delay fixed by the department of public works, a bond of a surety company authorized to do business in the state of Louisiana, in the amount required by the laws relating to contracts for public work, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the work in accordance with the plans and specifications of the engineers of the state department of public works and the terms of the contract. The department may demand any other bonds and obligations which the laws relating to public works contracts require the contractor to give.

Added by Acts 1956, No. 9, §12.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1626 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1626
Report of findings of appraisers; fees
Status: in_force

The board of appraisers shall prepare a report of their findings, which shall be arranged in tabular form, the columns of which shall be headed as follows: Column one, "Owner of property assessed"; Column two, "Description of property assessed"; Column three, "Number of acres assessed"; Column four, "Amount of benefits assessed"; Column five, "Number of acres taken for right of way"; Column six, "Value of property taken"; Column seven, "Damages"; Column eight, "Value of improvements constructed by landowners". They shall also, by and with the advice of the engineer of the district, estimate the cost of works set out in the plan for reclamation, which shall include the cost of property required for rights of way, holding basins, and other works, and damages, and the value of improvements already constructed by landowners as above set forth, and the probable expense of organization and administration, as estimated by the board of commissioners, and shall tabulate the costs. The report shall be signed by at least a majority of the appraisers, and shall be filed with the secretary of the drainage district. The secretary of the board of commissioners shall perform all clerical work of the board of appraisers; and shall, under the advice, supervision, and direction of the attorney for the district, prepare their report. The board of appraisers shall report to the board of commissioners the number of days each has been employed and the actual expenses incurred. Each appraiser shall be paid a reasonable fee for his services, and necessary expenses in addition thereto.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:216 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 216
Drainage of oil, salt water, etc. into natural drain prohibited; penalties
Status: in_force

A. Except as hereinafter specifically provided or as authorized by Stream Control Commission permit, no person shall knowingly and willfully empty or drain into or permit to be drained from any pumps, reservoir, wells or oil fields into any natural stream or drain from which water is taken for irrigation purposes any oil, salt water or other noxious or poisonous substances or gases which would render the water unfit for irrigation purposes or would destroy the fish therein.

B. The prohibitions of this Chapter, however, shall not prevent:

(1) The discharge or drainage of salt water, brine and chemical salts from industrial, oil or mining operations into those portions of natural streams and drains having water which has a normal salt content of more than 110 grains per gallon, to be determined by the daily average for the preceding ten years, measured at any depth not to exceed 12-1/2 feet or into tributaries of such streams which empty into the portions thereof which are excluded from the effect hereof; such water being hereby recognized as unfit for irrigation.

C. Whoever violates this Section shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two thousand dollars or be imprisoned for not less than thirty days nor more than three months. Each and every day that oil, salt water or other such substances are permitted to flow into such natural streams or drains in violation of the provisions of this Section shall constitute a separate offense.

Amended by Acts 1952, No. 203, §1; Acts 1966, No. 497, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2331 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2331
Regulations
Status: in_force

A. The board of commissioners for the authority may adopt and promulgate all reasonable regulations to secure, maintain, and preserve the sanitary conditions of all waters in and to flow into any reservoir owned by the authority, to prevent waste or the unauthorized use thereof, to regulate residence, hunting, fishing, boating, and camping and all recreational and business privileges along or around any such reservoir, the Sabine River, and its tributaries.

B. The board of commissioners may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations governing boating safety in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 34:851.1 through 851.33 and in addition may adopt rules and regulations for the marking of boating lanes and the enforcement of penalties for the illegal marking of boating lanes.

Added by Acts 1950, No. 261, §11; Acts 1990, No. 948, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2104 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2104
Contesting legality of district; appeal
Status: in_force

Any interested person desiring to contest the legality of any irrigation district created under this Part shall do so by suit against the irrigation district brought in the district court of the domicile of the district within sixty calendar days from the date of the second publication, or of the date of the last posting of the ordinance creating the district as herein provided. No right to bring any contest of legality shall exist and no court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any contest after the lapse of the sixty days.

If no contest is filed within the sixty days, it shall be conclusively presumed that in every particular the irrigation district was regularly and legally created, and that all lands embraced within the boundaries of the district are properly and legally included therein.

Any suit brought under the provisions of this section shall be tried summarily and by preference over all other cases and without the intervention of a jury. Appeal may be had as in other cases and shall be heard and determined in a summary manner.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3086.21 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3086.21
Creation; purposes; definitions; jurisdiction
Status: in_force

A. There is hereby created a body politic and corporate to be known as Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District, for the purpose of furnishing fresh water from any available fresh water source, including any ground water and surface water sources to the water purification facilities serving the incorporated villages, towns, and cities along Bayou Lafourche and within or adjacent to the boundaries of the district, as provided in this Part.

B. As used in this Part, the following terms and phrases shall have the following meanings, unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) "Board" means the board of commissioners of the Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District.

(2) "District" means the Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District.

(3) "Watercraft" means anything used or designated for navigation on water.

(4) "Waterway" means Bayou Lafourche or any navigable bayou or river, or portion thereof, located within the geographical boundaries of the district.

Acts 2003, No. 187, §1; Acts 2015, No. 34, §1, eff. May 29, 2015.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1576 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1576
Title to pumping plants, canals, ditches, rights-of-way and other property
Status: in_force

Upon the dissolution, of the drainage district or subdrainage district, all pumping plants, canals, ditches, rights-of-way, and other property theretofore acquired by it, by donation, purchase, expropriation, or otherwise, shall revert to the owners from whom they were acquired, their heirs, successors, transferees and assigns. If the drainage district or subdrainage district has an outstanding bonded indebtedness, all pumping plants, canals, ditches, rights-of-way, and other property may, with the consent of the landowners owning ninety-five percent of the lands in the drainage district or subdrainage district, be conveyed to the bondholders, free and clear of any claims of the landowners.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1618 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1618
Sub-drainage districts
Status: in_force

The board of commissioners of any drainage district may form two or more sub-drainage districts out of the territory comprising the drainage district, by simple resolution to that effect, approved by the engineer of the district, defining the limits of the sub-drainage district. The sub-drainage district may be composed entirely of the land of one individual or corporation. No sub-district may be created after the adoption of the plan for reclamation for the drainage district. The sub-drainage district may be enlarged or diminished and the boundaries thereof changed by the board of commissioners of the drainage district by simple resolution, approved by the engineer of the district, prior to the adoption of the plan for reclamation of any of the lands affected by the change in boundaries.

The sub-drainage districts, in all matters affecting the reclamation and draining thereof, the incurring of debt and the issuance of bonds and the taxing of the lands therein, shall be treated as if they were drainage districts, except that the governing authority thereof shall be the board of commissioners of the drainage district out of which they were formed, or except as may be otherwise provided in this Part.

The drainage commissioners of any district created under this Part, upon creating a sub-drainage district shall appoint any number not exceeding three property owners, or representatives of property owners, of the sub-drainage district, who may or may not be drainage commissioners of the district, for the purpose of superintending and looking after the work of reclamation and drainage. The committee shall act under the direction of the drainage commissioners, but may conduct the work of drainage and reclamation, maintain the drainage, and make their report from time to time to the drainage commissioners of the district. The committee may employ and discharge laborers, perform ordinary works, and solicit and enter into contracts. Any contract in excess of one hundred dollars must be approved by the board of commissioners of the drainage district in which the sub-drainage district is situated.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:330.12.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 330.12.1
Lakefront Management Authority; creation; composition; powers, duties, and functions
Status: in_force

A. The Lakefront Management Authority, hereafter referred to as the "authority", is hereby created as a political subdivision possessing full corporate power to manage, control, regulate, operate, and maintain any non-flood protection facility or improvement asset or function within a levee district within the jurisdiction of a flood protection authority.

B. The authority shall not be eligible to receive or expend any money from the Transportation Trust Fund.

C. The authority shall be composed of the following members who shall be subject to Senate confirmation, provided that no elected official shall be appointed to serve as a member of the authority:

(1) One member appointed by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East.

(2) One member appointed by the state senator representing Senate District No. 3 and Senate District No. 4, and by the state representative representing House District No. 97, House District No. 94, House District No. 99, and two members appointed by the Congressional Representative representing Congressional District No. 2. At least one member appointed shall be a lawyer, at least one member shall be a certified public accountant, and at least one member shall be a realtor.

(3) One member appointed by the mayor of the city of New Orleans.

(4) One member appointed by each New Orleans city council member in whose district a non-flood asset is located.

(5) Two members appointed jointly by the presidents of the Lakeshore, Lake Vista, Lake Terrace, and Lake Oaks property owners associations. The associations involved in the appointment of these members shall comply with the following:

(a) The appointed members shall reside within the residential boundaries of the Lakeshore, Lake Vista, Lake Terrace, and Lake Oaks neighborhoods.

(b) Preference shall be given to the neighborhood with the least number of representatives appointed for the authority.

(c) Nomination and reappointment shall be determined by a majority vote of the presidents of the property owners associations.

(6) One member appointed by the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development.

(7) One member appointed by the Pontchartrain Conservancy.

(8) One member appointed by the board for the New Orleans City Park.

D.(1) Members of the authority shall serve a term of four years. Any vacancy occurring on the authority shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired portion of the position vacated.

(2) A majority of the members of the authority shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of official business and all official actions of the authority shall require an affirmative vote by a majority of the members present and voting at a meeting.

(3) Members of the authority shall not receive any compensation for serving on the board but each member may receive not more than fifty dollars per day for attendance at meetings of the authority or its subcommittees. In addition, members may be reimbursed for mileage expenses incurred while in the performance of their official duties at the rate established by the division of administration for travel by state officials.

(4) Members of the authority shall file annual financial disclosure statements pursuant to R.S. 42:1124.2.1.

E. The authority shall be domiciled in the parish of Orleans.

F. The authority shall elect from its members a chairman and a secretary and shall select a vice-chairman to serve in the absence of the chairman. The authority may employ an executive director and such personnel as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.

G. The authority shall be responsible for the development and implementation of a management plan to best utilize the assets under its jurisdiction and maximize the benefits, attributes, and revenue potentials of such assets. Such plan shall include parameters for the interactions between the authority and other political subdivisions in the geographical areas of the assets under the jurisdiction of the authority and shall detail a procedure and process for the operation, maintenance, sale, lease, or transfer of any facility or improvement managed or controlled by the authority.

Acts 2010, No. 1014, §2, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2012; Acts 2011, No. 363, §2, eff. June 29, 2011, and §3, eff. Jan. 1, 2012; Acts 2017, No. 269, §1, eff. June 16, 2017; Acts 2019, No. 151, §1; Acts 2022, No. 342, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:419 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 419
Declaration by producers; estimate by sheriff
Status: in_force

The assessor if so directed by the presidents of the various levee boards or levee and drainage boards shall, and the sheriff may, require each producer of articles liable to the produce special assessment or forced contribution to declare under oath the number of acres cultivated by him in the current and in the past crop year, and in what crop cultivated, the amount of produce raised by the person in the last crop year and by what carrier the produce was shipped, and at what date the assessor and sheriff may administer the oath. The sheriff shall administer the oath and furnish the statement whenever so directed by the presidents of the various levee boards and levee and drainage boards. On the refusal or failure of any person to answer under oath when thus required, the sheriff shall make a written statement estimating the amount of the special assessment or forced contribution for which the person is liable on produce raised by him and shall send a copy thereof to the president of the levee board or levee and drainage board to which the assessment is due. The written statement of the sheriff shall be prima facie evidence in any judicial proceeding instituted for the collection of the special assessment or forced contribution of the amount due, and the defendant who has thus refused or failed to answer shall be made to pay the costs of the judicial proceedings, together with fifteen dollars attorney's fees in each case, to be taxed as costs.

Acts 1985, No. 785, §1, eff. July 22, 1985.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:106 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 106
Object and purpose
Status: in_force

A.(1) It is the object and purpose of this Chapter to provide for participation by the state of Louisiana in the Lower Atchafalaya River interim flood protection project.

(2) It is further the object of this Chapter to designate the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board as the nonfederal sponsor for the construction of the projects and to furnish the United States such assurances and cooperation as may be required by the Congress of the United States that the authority shall:

(a) Provide such lands, servitudes, and rights-of-way necessary for the construction, operation, replacement and rehabilitation, maintenance, and mitigation of the projects, including borrow and excavated material disposal areas.

(b) Accomplish all necessary alterations and relocations to roads, railroads, pipelines, cables, wharves, and other facilities required by the construction of the projects. Any owner or operator who is responsible for such necessary alterations or relocations shall be reimbursed for any and all expenses incurred by such alteration or relocation unless otherwise provided by contract or law.

(c) Hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction of the projects in certain circumstances.

(d) Share the portion of the costs that are required by the Congress.

(e) Provide other assurances and cooperation as may be required by the Congress.

B. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority or the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board shall repay to the United States, with interest, the nonfederal share of the construction of the projects.

Acts 1997, No. 698, §1, eff. July 7, 1997; Acts 2009, No. 523, §2, eff. July 10, 2009; Acts 2016, No. 430, §4.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2706 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2706
Election of officers; record book
Status: in_force

Immediately after the members of the board of commissioners have been appointed by the governor, or as soon as thereafter is practicable, they shall meet and organize by electing from their number a president, vice-president, and secretary who shall perform the duties normally required of such officers. The said board shall also select the name by which the district and any lake in the district is to be known and cause it to be recorded in a bound book which shall also be the depository of the minutes and proceedings of the board, certificates, oaths of commissioners, and any and all corporate acts of the board. This book shall be in the custody of the secretary of the board and shall be open for public inspection at all reasonable times.

Acts 1958, No. 474, §6; Acts 1989, No. 176, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2572 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2572
Individual mineral leases unabridged
Status: in_force

The provisions of this Part shall in no wise abridge the right of any individual from whom the flowage rights, rights of way and servitudes may have been acquired by any means however to lease said lands for the production of oil, gas and other minerals and the right of such lessee or his assignee to produce or cause to be produced oil, gas or other minerals therefrom.

Added by Acts 1956, No. 9, §22.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1843.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1843.1
Vermilion Parish Consolidated Gravity Drainage District Number One
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 38:1843, the Vermilion Parish Police Jury shall appoint six resident property taxpayers of Consolidated Gravity Drainage District Number One, all of whom are registered voters, as a board of commissioners, which shall be the governing body of the district. The board shall be governed by the laws set forth in this Part.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 80, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1650 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1650
Appointment of appraisers upon change of boundaries or plan
Status: in_force

In the event of a change in the boundaries of a drainage district so as to include additional land therein, or of a change in the plan for reclamation, the board of commissioners shall appoint three appraisers possessing the same qualifications as the appraisers appointed under R.S. 38:1623 to appraise property to be expropriated, assess benefits and damages, and estimate costs of improvements to be made under the plan for reclamation, and they shall do so and make their report in the same manner as is provided by R.S. 38:1623, 38:1624, 38:1625, 38:1626, after which the same proceedings shall be had as is provided for in preceding sections of this Part.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.101 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.101
Supervision by Department of Transportation and Development
Status: in_force

All of the powers and duties relative to construction and letting of contracts for construction required to be advertised by R.S. 38:2211 and 2212 conferred upon the district shall be subject to and exercised under the supervisory control of the Department of Transportation and Development of the state of Louisiana, which department shall furnish to the district such engineering services as it shall require and may cooperate with the district in the construction of any work or facility considered necessary by the district and said department to the purposes of the district.

Acts 1995, No. 1045, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2237 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2237
Methods of procurement
Status: in_force

A. A political subdivision may lease, rent, or purchase telecommunications or data processing systems, including equipment, and related services, through a request for proposals which shall conform to the following requirements:

(1) Specifications for the telecommunications or data processing systems equipment and related services shall be prepared in advance and shall designate the specific class or classes of equipment desired and may include all features associated with such class or classes of equipment. The specifications may also include requirements for the maintenance of the equipment if desired.

(2) If a lease-purchase contract for a telecommunications or data processing system is contemplated, the specifications shall require that the proposal contain the following:

(a) The principal amount of any proposed lease.

(b) The interest rate factor to be computed in the lease payments.

(c) The right of the lessee to purchase the equipment at the termination of payments for such equipment as set forth in the lease-purchase contract for a sum not to exceed one dollar.

(3) Any equipment lease-purchase contract entered into pursuant to this Part shall contain an annual appropriation dependence requirement to the effect that the renewal and continuation of such contract is contingent on the appropriation of funds to fulfill the requirements of the contract. If the political subdivision, after a diligent and good-faith effort, fails to appropriate sufficient monies to provide for payments under the contract, the obligation to make payments under the contract shall terminate in accordance with the terms of the contract on the last day of the last fiscal year for which funds were appropriated, provided the equipment is returned to the lessor or his agent as provided in the equipment lease-purchase contract, and such contract shall not be a long-term debt of the local political subdivision. In addition, in the equipment lease-purchase contract, the lessor shall covenant and agree to indemnify and hold the lessee harmless against any loss, damage, liability, cost, penalty or expense, including attorneys' fees, which is not otherwise agreed to by lessee in the equipment lease-purchase contract and which is incurred and arises upon a failure of the political subdivision to appropriate funds in the manner described herein for a continuation of the contract or exercise of the option to purchase the equipment.

(4) Any telecommunications or data processing equipment lease-purchase contract entered into pursuant to this Part shall be treated as a lease for all legal purposes without regard to the rights and obligations of the lessee at lease termination or to any interest factor payment, and without necessity of filing a chattel mortgage. The lessor shall be deemed owner of the equipment during the term of the lease. In addition, the equipment shall be deemed to be movable property for all purposes and shall not become a component part of any immovable property, notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, including but not limited to Civil Code Articles 465, 466, 467, 493.1, or 495.

(5) All lease-purchase contracts entered into pursuant to this Part shall provide that whatever interests, claims and rights, including warranties of the equipment, which the lessor may have against the selected vendor of the equipment which is the subject of such lease-purchase contract, shall be assigned to the lessee, and the lessee shall have full right to pursue any and all remedies available to the lessor for breach of any warranty against the vendor. In addition, the lease-purchase contract shall provide that the lessor shall join the lessee as a party plaintiff in any cause, if required under state law, for successful pursuit of such action. Upon termination of the lease-purchase contract, unless the option to purchase is exercised, all such interests, claims, and rights assigned to the lessee under this Section shall revert to the lessor. In addition, the lease-purchase contract shall provide that lessee has no right to alienate or encumber the equipment during the term of the lease.

(6) Public notice of the request for proposals shall be given at least thirty days prior to the date scheduled for opening the request for proposals. In addition, written notice of the request for proposals shall be mailed to persons, firms, or corporations who are known to be in a position to furnish such equipment, systems, and related services. This public notice may also be given by electronic media available to the general public.

(7) The request for proposals will indicate the relative importance of price and other evaluation factors, shall clearly define the tasks to be performed under the contract, the functional specifications, the criteria to be used in evaluating the proposals and the time frames within which the work must be completed.

(8) An award shall be made to the responsible offerer whose proposal is determined in writing by the governing authority of the political subdivision to be the most advantageous, taking into consideration price and other evaluation factors set forth in the request for proposals. No other basis of evaluation shall be used except those set out in the request for proposals.

(9) The governing authority of the political subdivision may reject all proposals when it is deemed that such action is in the best interest of such political subdivision.

(10) Where written proposals are submitted by vendors, the proposals of the successful vendor shall be incorporated into the final contract consummated with that vendor.

B. Political subdivisions may, at their option, procure telecommunications and data processing equipment, systems, or related services in accordance with the provisions of any other applicable law which governs such acquisitions or purchases by political subdivisions of the state, including but not limited to R.S. 38:2211 et seq., with respect to awarding of public contracts. However, in the event an invitation for bids is used in lieu of a request for proposals, written notice of that fact shall be given to all bidders and such notice shall also state that the request for proposals procedure will not be applicable.

Acts 1988, No. 523, §1; Acts 1992, No. 486, §1; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 120, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2224 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2224
Affidavit attesting that public contract was not secured through employment or payment of solicitor
Status: in_force

A. All architects, landscape architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, or any person, corporation, firm, association, or other organization receiving value for services rendered in connection with a contract for the construction, alteration or demolition of a public building or project shall execute an affidavit attesting:

(1) That affiant employed no person, corporation, firm, association, or other organization, either directly or indirectly, to secure the public contract under which he received payment, other than persons regularly employed by the affiant whose services in connection with the construction, alteration or demolition of the public building or project or in securing the public contract were in the regular course of their duties for affiant; and

(2) That no part of the contract price received by affiant was paid or will be paid to any person, corporation, firm, association, or other organization for soliciting the contract, other than the payment of their normal compensation to persons regularly employed by the affiant whose services in connection with the construction, alteration or demolition of the public building or project were in the regular course of their duties for affiant.

B. No public contract shall be granted to any person, corporation, firm, association, or other organization refusing to execute the affidavit required by Subsection A above.

Acts 1977, No. 103, §1. Amended by Acts 1982, No. 713, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:33 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 33
Regional planning commissions
Status: in_force

A. Each of the eight regional planning commissions created throughout the state pursuant to the authorization provided in Subparts C and F of Part IV of Chapter 1 of Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 shall be authorized to and shall assist the office of engineering in preparation of that office's annual report to the governor, the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works, the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works, and the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget regarding priorities for project funding in accordance with the requirements of R.S. 38:32.

B. Each planning commission shall solicit proposals for project funding from local governments and from special districts, boards, and commissions having water resources and sewerage responsibilities, which entities are located within the area of jurisdiction of the planning commission. Each planning commission shall set a deadline for receipt of project proposals, following which it shall rank in order of priority those projects needing and deserving of project funding. Each planning commission shall establish guidelines acceptable to and approved by the office of engineering by which to evaluate and rank project proposals.

C. Each planning commission shall prepare and submit to the office of engineering a report setting forth a list of projects recommended for funding. Said report shall be submitted to the office at least one hundred twenty days prior to the date upon which the office plans to submit its comprehensive list of prioritized projects to the governor, the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works and the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works, and the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 625, §1. Acts 1984, No. 377, §1; Acts 2012, No. 753, §5.

{{NOTE: SEE ACTS 1984, NO. 377, §3.}}
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2261 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2261
Preference for goods manufactured, or services performed, by individuals with disabilities through supported employment providers; non-applicability of competitive bidding requirements; coordinating council
Status: in_force

A. Every agency as defined in R.S. 39:1556 shall give a preference in its purchasing practices to goods manufactured and services performed by individuals with disabilities through supported employment providers.

B. The requirements for competitive bidding contained in Part II of this Chapter shall be inapplicable to cases in which an agency as defined in R.S. 39:1556 uses goods manufactured, or services performed, by individuals with disabilities through supported employment providers, provided the goods manufactured or services performed are equal in quality and reasonable in the rate charged based upon those goods and services available from other providers.

C. The State Use Council for the Purchase of Goods and Services Provided by Individuals with Disabilities established pursuant to R.S. 39:1604.4(B) shall coordinate and facilitate the carrying out of the provisions of this Section. The membership of this council shall be determined by the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health.

D. For the purposes of this Section, the following terms are defined as follows:

(1) "Goods manufactured and services performed by individuals with disabilities" shall have the meaning as defined in R.S. 39:1604.4(D).

(2) "Individuals with disabilities" shall have the meaning as defined in R.S. 39:1604.4(D).

(3) "Supported employment provider" shall have the meaning as defined in R.S. 39:1604.4(D).

Added by Acts 1983, No. 363, §1; Acts 2010, No. 939, §5, eff. July 1, 2010 (Subsection C), and Jan. 1, 2011 (Subsection D); Acts 2014, No. 811, §20, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2019, No. 312, §2, eff. July 1, 2019.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1502 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1502
Copying and indexing records; recording and indexing proceedings
Status: in_force

Each clerk of court without the right to make any charge for the service shall copy and properly index into the book of drainage records any and all proceedings heretofore recorded in the mortgage records of his parish, and affecting any drainage or sub-drainage district. He shall record and index in the book any and all subsequent proceedings taken by any drainage or sub-drainage district, which are now required to be recorded in his mortgage records. For the recordation of subsequent proceedings, the clerk shall be entitled to collect from each drainage or sub-drainage district the recording charges now provided by law.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3011 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3011
Playgrounds, parks and other facilities; limitation
Status: in_force

The board of commissioners shall have the power to cause to be created and constructed playgrounds, picnic grounds, grounds for recreation parks, and any and all other facilities to accommodate the public and to provide adequate access to the proposed lake, as may within the opinion of the board become necessary, and the district shall have the right of eminent domain and expropriation in the exercise of such powers.

Added by Acts 1970, No. 600, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3101 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3101
Definitions
Status: in_force

When used in this Chapter:

(1) "Agency" means the state of Louisiana, its municipalities or parishes, or the agencies of any of them, including particularly, but not exclusively, the Department of Transportation and Development.

(2) "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation or association.

(3) "Displaced person" means

(a) any person who, on or after the effective date of this chapter, moves from real property, or moves his personal property from real property, as a result of the acquisition of such real property, in whole or in part, or as the result of the written order of the acquiring agency to vacate real property, for a program or project undertaken by an agency; and solely for the purposes of R.S. 38:3104(A) and (B) and R.S. 38:3103, as a result of the acquisition of or as the result of the written order of the acquiring agency to vacate other real property, on which such person conducts a business or farm operation, for such program or project; or

(b) any person who moves or discontinues his business or moves other personal property, or moves from his dwelling on or after the effective date of this chapter as the direct result of code enforcement, demolition or interim assistance activities, or a program of rehabilitation of buildings conducted pursuant to a governmental program.

(4) "Business" means any lawful activity, excepting a farm operation, conducted primarily--

(a) for the purchase, sale, lease and rental of personal and real property, and for the manufacture, processing, or marketing of products, commodities, or any other personal property;

(b) for the sale of services to the public;

(c) by a nonprofit organization; or

(d) solely for the purpose of R.S. 38:3104(A), for assisting in the purchase, sale, resale, manufacture, processing, or marketing of products, commodities, personal property, or services by the erection and maintenance of an outdoor advertising display or displays, whether or not such display or displays are located on the premises on which any of the above activities are conducted.

(5) "Farm operation" shall mean any activity conducted solely or primarily for the production of one or more agricultural products or commodities, including timber, for sale and home use, and customarily producing such products or commodities in sufficient quantity to be capable of contributing materially to the operator's support.

Added by Acts 1971, No. 116, §1, emerg. eff. June 14, 1971. Amended by Acts 1972, No. 207, §1; Acts 1977, No. 216, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3053 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3053
Officers; compensation; meetings; local services agreement
Status: in_force

At the first meeting, Commission shall elect from among their members a president, vice-president and secretary. Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation or per diem. Meetings of the Commission shall be conducted in accordance with the public meetings law of Louisiana and in accordance with rules of procedure adopted by Commission. The official minute book and records of the Commission shall be subject to the public records act of Louisiana except that any drilling and production records deemed by the Commission to be of a confidential nature and provide 1 District for its lawful purposes shall be exempted from this requirement. The treasurer and director of finance of the parish of East Baton Rouge shall serve as such fiscal officers of the Commission. A local services agreement or agreements under the authority of R.S. 33:1321 et seq. is hereby authorized to be entered into between the district, the parish of East Baton Rouge and the city of Baton Rouge. Such agreement may provide operating funds for purposes of the district. Commission shall incur no liability or obligation that cannot be paid by district from funds lawfully available to it.

Added by Acts 1970, No. 682, §3.

1 As it appears in Acts 1970, No. 682 and in the original House Bill No. 1635.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1585 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1585
Statement of cost of improvement; definitions
Status: in_force

A. Upon the award of any contract under the provisions of this Part, the drainage district shall forthwith require of the engineer of the district a duly certified statement or report showing in detail the total cost of the improvements, including the cost of street intersections, engineer's and attorney's fees, and all other expenses incidental to the cost. The report shall also show the amount of the cost chargeable to each lot or parcel to be benefitted in the proportion that its area bears to the total area to be assessed or in the proportion that its front footage bears to the total front footage to be assessed, as shall be determined by the governing authority. However, when the assessment is made on a front foot basis and any drainage line is constructed upon more than one side of any lot or parcel of real estate, the total front footage of such lot or parcel of real estate to be assessed shall be determined by taking the total front footage of said lot or parcel of real estate abutting all drainage lines to be constructed and dividing such total front footage by two. The report shall further describe each lot or parcel of real estate to be assessed with sufficient clarity to identify it.

B.(1) The words "front footage" as used in this Part shall mean the footage of each lot or parcel of real estate abutting the right of way, street, or drainage way along which the drainage line is constructed.

(2) The words "square footage" shall mean the area of land measured in square feet to be drained by the improvements to be constructed.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 708, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1674.16 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1674.16
St. Tammany Parish Drainage District No. 4
Status: in_force

A.(1) The governing authority of Drainage District No. 4 of St. Tammany Parish is authorized to call a special election on or before December 31, 1996, for approval, by a majority of the electors residing within Drainage District No. 4 as defined in St. Tammany Police Jury Ordinance No. 812 on the eighteenth day of May, 1979, revised by St. Tammany Police Jury Ordinance No. 1144 on the twenty-fourth day of April, 1980, under Part I of Chapter 6 of Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, of a proposition, which the district governing authority may place on the ballot, to levy a maintenance and operation tax on each landowner of record within the district, in an amount not to exceed ninety-six dollars for each ten thousand square feet of each lot and parcel owned, such that the minimum tax on each lot or parcel is equal to that amount which would be levied on the first ten thousand square feet, for:

(a) The maintenance of the levee system, pumping station, pumps, holding ponds, construction of pumping stations and acquisition of land therefor, and other matters related thereto; and

(b) The operation of the district including cost of the pumping station operation staff, salaries of office staff, utilities and fuels, purchase of equipment necessary for the maintenance or operation of the district, contract services, insurance, and personnel, and other matters related thereto or called for by law.

(2) Subject to approval of a majority of the electors of the district voting on the proposition therefor, there may be exemptions from the maintenance and operation tax provided for in this Subsection for:

(a) Property of any owner of property in the district who is over sixty-five years of age and who resides within the district, such exemption not to exceed twenty-four dollars on the first ten thousand square feet of property per lot or parcel; provided that the owner applies for the exemption annually as provided by the board of commissioners.

(b) Property of the Kingspoint Homeowners' Association Recreation Area, not to exceed twenty-four dollars per acre, so long as the recreation area remains for the private use of the Kingspoint Subdivision homeowners, and provided that the exemption is applied for annually by a person duly authorized to make such application by the Kingspoint Homeowners' Association board who shall make application as provided by the board of commissioners.

(c) Property of nonprofit organizations, such exemption not to exceed ten percent of the actual total amount of the tax due, shall be given to any nonprofit organization domiciled within the district; provided that the exemption is applied for annually by a person duly authorized to make such application by the nonprofit organization who shall make application as provided by the board of commissioners. Upon submission of said application the applicant shall provide to the board of commissioners proof of nonprofit IRS 501(c)(3) status.

(3) Publicly owned property shall be exempt from the tax.

B. The maintenance and operation tax and exemptions shall be imposed by resolution at a special meeting of the board of commissioners of Drainage District No. 4, after the election on the propositions, if approved by a majority of the qualified electors within the district voting at the election. A certified copy of the resolution shall be furnished to the sheriff and ex officio tax collector of St. Tammany Parish. The tax shall be collected by the sheriff at the same time as the parish ad valorem taxes and shall enjoy the same recourse as parish ad valorem taxes for nonpayment and shall prime all other liens except parish ad valorem taxes.

C. The maintenance and operation tax shall become effective for the calendar year in which the maintenance and operation tax is passed. The maintenance and operation tax shall be imposed for a five-year term and may be renewed for five-year terms at the end of each term by calling for a special election on or before the last day of December in the last year of each term for approval of the electors residing within Drainage District No. 4 as defined in St. Tammany Police Jury Ordinance No. 812 on the eighteenth day of May, 1979, revised by St. Tammany Police Jury Ordinance No. 1144 on the twenty-fourth day of April, 1980, or any other ordinance of the St. Tammany Police Jury incorporating new areas into the boundary of the district, according to Part I of Chapter 6 of Title 38 or other relevant part of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, and placing on the ballot a proposition for renewal defining the rate and purpose of the tax revenue. The tax shall be so renewed if approved by a majority of the electors voting at such election.

D.(1) The governing authority of Drainage District No. 4 of St. Tammany Parish, with the approval of the police jury of St. Tammany Parish and the approval of the electors of the district as provided in this Subsection, shall be granted the authority to maintain the flow of water through catch basins, subsurface drains, and canals leading to the holding ponds of the district, and to remove from and prevent trash and other material which would obstruct the flow of water from entering such drainage facilities. This authority shall not include the responsibility or authority to repair or replace any structure or structural element which facilitates or enables drainage.

(2) In order to carry out the functions of the district pursuant to this Subsection, the district governing authority may impose an additional maintenance and operation tax, subject to approval of the electors of the district as provided in this Subsection, on each landowner of record within the district, not to exceed fifty-three dollars annually for each ten thousand square feet of each lot and parcel owned. Property of nonprofit organizations and publicly owned property shall be exempt from such tax.

(3) The authority of the district to maintain water flow as provided in this Subsection and to levy an additional tax as provided in this Subsection shall be subject to the approval of a majority of the electors of the district voting on a proposition or propositions at an election held for the purpose.

E. The drainage district shall be governed by a board of commissioners. The police jury of St. Tammany Parish shall appoint five commissioners who reside and own property within the district. No two commissioners shall have interest in the same lot and/or parcel and no two commissioners shall have any family, financial, or business relationship. No more than one of the five commissioners may be appointed from any property included in the district pursuant to Subsection F of this Section.

F. This Section shall define the method by which continuous lands next to the district may be included into a subsurface and canal drainage maintenance program with the ability for the district to assume the responsibility from the parish of St. Tammany for the maintenance of the subsurface drainage and canals leading to the W-14 canal, such that a petition in favor of being included, signed by seventy-five percent of the qualified electors of the proposed area to be included in the subsurface and canal drainage maintenance program is presented to both Drainage District No. 4 board of commissioners and St. Tammany Parish police jurors. If both the Drainage District No. 4 board of commissioners and the St. Tammany Parish police jury vote in favor of the area being included, a study by the St. Tammany Engineering Department shall be made as to the costs and feasibility. If the study indicates that including the area in the subsurface and canal drainage maintenance program is feasible, the drainage district governing authority may call an election at which the question of including the area in the program and levying an operation and maintenance tax for such purpose shall be placed on the ballot. The term of the tax shall be a minimum of five years and such additional period as shall be necessary to provide that the tax levy shall terminate at the same time as the tax levy authorized pursuant to Subsection A. If a majority of the electors of the area to be included in the program voting on the proposition vote in favor thereof, the area shall be included and the tax shall be levied.

G. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any election authorized in this Section may be held on any Saturday prior to December 31, 1996, as provided by the governing authority of the district, or on any date authorized by the election laws of the state. If the electors of the district authorize the tax provided in Subsection A, any fee or tax currently imposed by the district for operation and maintenance may be discontinued by the district governing authority for such period as such tax authorized by Subsection A is imposed, provided that no obligation of the district is impaired. The discontinuance of any such fee or tax as provided herein shall not affect the obligation to pay any such fee or tax previously imposed which became due prior to discontinuation which has not been paid.

Acts 1991, No. 398, §1, eff. July 10, 1991; Acts 1993, No. 794, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1162, §1, eff. June 29, 1995; Acts 2004, No. 559, §1, eff. June 25, 2004.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1596.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1596.1
Creation of district; governing authority
Status: in_force

A. There is hereby created a drainage district in Ouachita Parish to be known as the River Oaks Drainage District No. 1. The boundaries of the district are as follows:

"A certain tract of land containing 450 acres, more or less, and situated in Sections 35 and 68, Township 18 North, Range 3 East and Sections 50 and 80, Township 18 North, Range 4 East, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, more particularly described as follows:

An irregular shaped parcel of land being bounded on the west by the easterly toe of the Ouachita River levee; bounded on the north by the southerly high bank of Chauvin Bayou; bounded on the east by the east line of Section 50, T18N-R4E; and bounded on the south by the north line of the present Monroe City Limits, as of March 1, 1985.

LESS AND EXCEPT

A certain tract or parcel of land containing 7.25 acres, more or less, and situated in Section 68, Township 18 North, Range 3 East, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, more particularly described as follows:

Commence at the most southwesterly point of River Oaks Subdivision Unit 10 and run thence in a westerly direction, along the north line of River Oaks Subdivision Unit 9, a distance of 220.00 feet, more or less, to a point 220.00 feet west of, as measured perpendicular to, the west line of River Oaks Subdivision Unit 10; thence run in a northerly direction, parallel to said west line of River Oaks Subdivision Unit 10, a distance of 1435.81 feet; thence run in an easterly direction, parallel to said north line of River Oaks Subdivision Unit 9, a distance of 220.00 feet, more or less, to the west line of said River Oaks Subdivision Unit 10; thence run in a southerly direction, along the west line of said River Oaks Subdivision Unit 10, a distance of 1435.81 feet, more or less, back to the POINT OF BEGINNING.

AND

A certain tract of land containing 205 acres, more or less, and situated in Section 35, Township 18 North, Range 3 East, and Section 51, and 80, Township 18 in North, Range 4 East, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, more particularly described as follows:

An irregular shaped parcel of land being bounded on the west by the easterly toe of the Ouachita River levee; bounded on the north and east by the north and east line of Section 50, T18N-R4E; and bounded on the south by the northerly high bank of Chauvin Bayou."

B. The Ouachita Parish governing authority shall be the governing authority for the district.

Acts 1985, No. 979, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2324 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2324
Status; suits; process; exemption from taxation
Status: in_force

A. The Sabine River Authority is hereby declared to be an agency and instrumentality of the state of Louisiana required by the public convenience and necessity for the carrying out of the functions of the state, and to be a corporation and body politic and corporate, with power of perpetual succession, invested with all powers, privileges, rights, and immunities conferred by law upon other corporations of like character including but not limited to port authorities, port commissions, and port, harbor, and terminal districts within the state.

B.(1) The authority shall operate from self-generated revenues and shall not be a budget unit of the state. The authority may, however, receive state appropriations at any time it is deemed advisable by the legislature, and only the expenditure of such appropriated funds shall be subject to budgetary controls or authority of the division of administration. The authority shall establish its own operating budget for the use of its self-generated revenues or unencumbered fund balances subject to majority approval of the board of commissioners of the authority. Any budget adopted shall be effective for a fiscal year commensurate with that of the state. The budget shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget for review and approval.

(2) The authority shall not have the power to levy taxes but it may assess and collect charges, fees, and rentals for the use of its lands or water bottoms and for the construction, installation, maintenance, and operation on such lands or water bottoms, or on the surface of any lake or reservoir owned by it or in which it has an interest, any wharf, dock, boathouse, pier, marine, shop, store, gasoline dispenser, or other commercial establishment. It shall have and possess the authority to sue and be sued. All legal process shall be served upon the chairman of the board of commissioners.

C. The domicile of said authority shall be within Sabine Parish.

D. Said authority, in carrying out the purposes of this Chapter, will be performing an essential public function under the constitution and shall not be required to pay any tax or assessment on its properties or any part thereof, nor to pay any excise, license, or other tax or imposition on its operating revenues, and the bonds issued hereunder and their transfer and the income therefrom shall at all times be free from taxation within this state.

Acts 1987, No. 367, §1, eff. July 3, 1987; Acts 1995, No. 495, §1; Acts 2010, No. 762, §1, eff. June 30, 2010.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2320 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2320
Disposal of surplus computer equipment by political subdivisions
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, political subdivisions in the state shall establish procedures to give first priority for the acquisition of their surplus computer equipment to public elementary and secondary schools in the state and community and technical colleges under the management and control of the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges.

Acts 2005, No. 152, §1, eff. June 28, 2005.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:144 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 144
Building of temporary levees
Status: in_force

The several parishes subject to overflow may have temporary levees made.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2757 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2757
Compensation; expenses
Status: in_force

The membership of said board shall serve without compensation for its services to the board, but it shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in the performance of its duties.

Added by Acts 1962, No. 308, §7.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:330.13 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 330.13
Public contracts; Louisiana Initiative for Small Entrepreneurship
Status: in_force

The board of commissioners of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East and Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-West Bank shall comply with the provisions of R.S. 39:2001 et seq., when advertising and letting public works contracts and procurement contracts.

Acts 2006, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:90.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 90.3
Limits of projects
Status: in_force

The minimum amount the state shall set aside for a single project under the provisions of this Chapter shall be seventy thousand dollars.

Added by Acts 1982, No. 351, §1. Acts 1984, No. 519, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3004 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3004
Board to govern; membership; tenure; vacancies; compensation
Status: in_force

The said district shall be governed and controlled by the Board of Commissioners of the Jackson-Bienville Parishes Dugdemona Watershed District, to be composed of seven commissioners, each of whom shall be a qualified elector of the State of Louisiana who resides within the limits of Wards 2 and 3 of Jackson Parish or of Wards 1 and 6 of Bienville Parish. Four of the commissioners shall be appointed by the Jackson Parish Police Jury. Three of the commissioners shall be appointed by the Bienville Parish Police Jury. All commissioners shall serve terms of four years and until their successors have been appointed and have qualified; except that one of the initial appointments made by each police jury shall be for a term of one year, two made by the Jackson Parish Police Jury shall be for a term of two years, one made by the Jackson Parish Police Jury shall be for a term of three years, and two made by the Bienville Parish Police Jury shall be for a term of four years. Any vacancy in the office of commissioner, due to death, resignation or any other cause shall be filled by an appointment made in the same manner.

The members of the board shall receive no compensation for their services, but may be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in the performance of official duties.

Added by Acts 1970, No. 600, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.136 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.136
Powers of the board
Status: in_force

The board shall conduct a study and survey of the groundwater resources in the district, including but not limited to consideration of what is necessary or advisable to conserve groundwater resources and where appropriate, prevent or alleviate damaging or potentially damaging drawdowns, land surface subsidence, and groundwater quality degradation. For this purpose, the board shall hold hearings and may:

(1) Cooperate with and enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with other governmental units and agencies of this state, with governments and agencies of other states and of the United States, and with private agencies or other groundwater conservation districts for the achievement of the purposes of this Part.

(2) Receive and expend funds from any source, public or private, for the achievement of the purposes of this Part.

(3) Hire such personnel and retain such consultants as shall be reasonably necessary to the performance of its functions. Personnel from other agencies shall be used wherever practical and possible.

(4) Advise and consult with the secretary of the Department of Conservation and Energy on matters that impact water resources within the board's jurisdiction.

Acts 1999, No. 1228, §1; Acts 2003, No. 49, §2, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2012, No. 471, §2; Acts 2025, No. 458, §5, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2825 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2825
Board to govern; membership and tenure; vacancies; compensation
Status: in_force

The said district shall be governed and controlled by the Board of Commissioners of the Black Bayou Watershed District, to be composed of five commissioners, each of whom shall be a qualified elector of the State of Louisiana who resides within the limits of Caddo Parish. The commissioners shall be appointed by the Police Jury of Caddo Parish and shall serve terms of four years and until their successors have been appointed and have qualified. Any vacancy in the office of commissioner, due to death, resignation, or any other cause, shall be filled by the remaining commissioners for the unexpired term.

The members of the board shall receive no compensation for their services.

Added by Acts 1966, No. 262, §5.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.267 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.267
Contracts of the district
Status: in_force

Contracts of the district shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 10 of this Title, relative to public contracts (R.S. 38:2181 et seq.).

Acts 2003, No. 1228, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1596.8 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1596.8
Additional assessments
Status: in_force

A. If the local and special assessments originally levied are insufficient in any one year to pay the principal and/or interest of the drainage certificates outstanding at their respective maturity dates, the governing authority may levy and collect, at such time or times as may be necessary, an additional local or special assessment on each lot or parcel of real estate in the district or area involved sufficient in amount to pay in full the principal and/or interest of such drainage certificates at their respective maturity dates.

B. The amounts assessed in such ordinance shall be due and collectible immediately on its passage and if not paid within thirty days from the date of its adoption the governing authority shall proceed against the property for the collection of the amount of the additional local or special assessment so levied, plus interest thereon and ten percent additional for attorney's fees.

C. A certified copy of each ordinance providing for the levy and collection of such additional local or special assessment shall be filed with the clerk of court of Ouachita Parish promptly upon its adoption, who shall record the same in mortgage records of the parish, and when so filed and recorded the ordinance shall operate as a lien and privilege against all the real estate therein assessed and shall prime all other liens and privileges except taxes and prior recorded local or special assessments levied for streets, sewerage, or water.

Acts 1985, No. 979, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3083 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3083
Violations; penalty; jurisdiction; attorney general to conduct suit; complicity
Status: in_force

A. Whoever knowingly and willfully violates a provision of this Part or a rule, regulation, or order of the district made hereunder, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars a day for each day of violation and for each act of violation, if a penalty for the violation is not otherwise provided in this Part.

B. The place of suit to recover this penalty shall be selected by the district, as may be appropriate, in the district court of the parish of the residence of any one of the defendants, or in the district court of the parish where the violation took place.

C. Suit shall be at the direction of the district, and shall be instituted and conducted in its name by the attorney general or by the district attorney of the district under the direction of the attorney general.

Added by Acts 1974, No. 678, §1; Acts 2025, No. 458, §5, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:226 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 226
Permits for levee crossings
Status: in_force

If an appointed board or commission having jurisdiction over levees receives letters of no objection from the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Transportation and Development, office of engineering, or, for levees in the coastal area as defined in R.S. 49:214.2, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, in response to a request to the board or commission for a permit or letter of no objection to a levee crossing or a request to renew or transfer an existing permit, it shall be incumbent upon and a ministerial duty of the executive or administrative officer to issue the requested permit or letter of no objection to the crossing, subject to any conditions or stipulations contained in the letters received from the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Transportation and Development, office of engineering, or for levees in the coastal area as defined in R.S. 49:214.2, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. The board or commission may impose customary fees, bonds, and other general stipulations. The executive or administrative officer shall enforce such permits for levee crossings only to the extent of the conditions and stipulations contained in the permit or letter of no objection.

Acts 2003, No. 462, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2010, No. 734, §3; Acts 2012, No. 604, §8; Acts 2012, No. 753, §5; Acts 2016, No. 430, §4.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1674.10 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1674.10
Contesting validity
Status: in_force

No contest or proceeding to question the validity or legality of any resolutions or ordinances adopted or proceedings had under the provisions of R.S. 38:1674.1 through R.S. 38:1674.10 shall be begun in any court by any person for any cause whatsoever after the expiration of thirty days from the date when the resolution, ordinance or proceeding was published, and after such time the regularity of such resolution, ordinance, or proceeding shall be conclusively presumed. If the validity of any certificates issued under the provisions hereof is not raised within thirty days from the date of publication of the resolution or ordinance issuing said certificates and fixing their terms, the authority to issue said certificates, the legality thereof and of the local or special assessments necessary to pay the same shall be conclusively presumed and no court shall thereafter have authority to inquire into such matters.

Added by Acts 1962, No. 144, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2569 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2569
Management of fish, game, and wildlife
Status: in_force

A, B, C. REPEALED BY ACTS 1993, NO. 830, §2.

D. The board of commissioners of the Bayou D'Arbonne Lake Watershed District shall have authority to establish and cause to be enforced rules and regulations pertaining to all commercial establishments which may be constructed for the purpose of commercializing and making commercial use of the facilities provided by the said lake; to license and permit such establishments and to levy and collect a fee, to be fixed by the commission, for the privilege of making commercial use of the facilities of said lake, or to refuse to license or permit any commercial establishment to use the facilities provided by said lake.

E. The rules and regulations established and promulgated by the board of commissioners of the Bayou D'Arbonne Lake Watershed District shall provide penalties for any such commercial establishment operating without a permit or license, and such rules and regulations shall be enforced by the sheriff of the parish within which the district is situated, as hereinafter provided and violations thereof prosecuted by the district attorney of the judicial district within which the Watershed District is situated, as hereinabove provided.

Added by Acts 1956, No. 9, §19. Amended by Acts 1962, No. 194, §4; Acts 1993, No. 830, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3092 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3092
Definitions
Status: in_force

Unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings for purposes of this Chapter:

(1) "Beneficial purpose" or "beneficial use" means the use of ground water for domestic, municipal, industrial, agricultural, recreational or therapeutic purposes.

(2) "Ground water" is water suitable for any beneficial purpose percolating below the earth's surface.

(3) "Office" means the Department of Conservation and Energy.

(4) "Persons" means any natural person, corporation, association, partnership, receiver, tutor, curator, executor, administrator, fiduciary, or representative of any kind.

(5) "Secretary" means the secretary of the Department of Conservation and Energy.

(6) "User" means any person making any beneficial use of ground water in excess of fifty thousand gallons for any day during any calendar year from a well or wells owned or operated by such person or from a well or wells owned or operated solely for the production of water used by such person.

(7) "Well" or "water well" shall mean any well drilled or constructed for the principal purpose of producing ground water.

Acts 1972, No. 535, §3; Acts 2009, No. 437, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2023, No. 150, §12, eff. Jan. 10, 2024; Acts 2025, No. 458, §5, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:216.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 216.1
Water control structures; unauthorized opening; penalties
Status: in_force

A. No unauthorized person shall willfully open any water control structure which will result in the drainage of saltwater into any natural water body or drain.

B. For purposes of this Section, "water control structure" shall mean a structure in a water management system that conveys water, controls the direction or rate of flow, maintains a desired water surface elevation, or measures water.

C. Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than five years, or both.

D. In addition to the above penalties, any hunting, fishing, or gear license or permit or privilege possessed by the offender may be revoked and the offender may be permanently prohibited from seeking any permit, license, or privilege.

Acts 2012, No. 809, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.122 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.122
Contracts let by board
Status: in_force

Any and all contracts of the district shall be let by the board of commissioners under the provisions of the Public Bid Law, R.S. 38:2181 et seq.

Acts 1999, No. 588, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3086.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3086.2
Location; composition; additions
Status: in_force

The territory comprised within said district shall consist of the parishes of Iberia, Lafayette, St. Martin and Vermilion. Additional parishes may be added to the district by resolutions duly adopted by the police jury of each parish then included in the district, upon receipt by each of said police juries of a resolution adopted by the police jury requesting inclusion of its parish in the district. The effective date of the inclusion of an additional parish within the district shall be the date on which the appropriate resolution is adopted by the last police jury granting such inclusion.

Acts 1969, No. 41, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:352 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 352
Petition for expropriation of property; contents; place of filing
Status: in_force

The rights of expropriation of property granted by this Part shall be exercised in the following manner:

(1) A petition shall be filed by the governing authority of the levee district or levee and drainage district in the district court of the parish in which the property to be expropriated is situated. Where the property to be expropriated extends into two or more parishes and the owner of the property resides in one of them, the petition shall be filed in the district court of the parish where the owner resides, but if the owner does not reside in any one of the parishes into which the property extends, the petition may be filed in any one of the parishes. In all such cases, the court wherein the petition is filed shall have jurisdiction to adjudicate as to all the property involved.

(2) The petition shall contain a statement of the purpose for which the property is to be expropriated describing the property necessary therefor and the reasons for the necessity, with a plan of the same, a description of the improvements thereon, if any, and the name of the owner, if known.

(3) The petition shall have annexed thereto the following:

(a) A certified copy of a resolution adopted by the governing authority of the levee district or levee and drainage district, with the concurrence of not less than two-thirds of a quorum, declaring that the expropriation is necessary or useful for the purposes of this Part.

(b) An itemized statement of the amount of money estimated to be the full extent of the owner's loss for the expropriation or the damage, or both, as the case may be. It shall be signed by those who made the estimate, showing the capacity in which they acted and the date on which it was made.

Acts 1985, No. 785, §1, eff. July 22, 1985.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2220 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2220
Purchase or contract contrary to provisions of this Part void
Status: in_force

A. Any purchase of materials or supplies, or any contract entered into for the construction of public works, contrary to the provisions of this Part shall be null and void.

B. The district attorney in whose district a violation of this Part occurs, the attorney general, or any interested party may bring suit in the district court through summary proceeding to enjoin the award of a contract or to seek other appropriate injunctive relief to prevent the award of a contract which would be in violation of this Part, or through ordinary proceeding to seek appropriate remedy to nullify a contract entered into in violation of this Part.

C. Where a judgment of nullity is rendered in any action brought by a district attorney or by the attorney general pursuant to Subsection B of this Section the district court may award a civil penalty not in excess of fifty thousand dollars against each offending member of the governing authority of the public entity who authorized the violation.

Acts 1977, No. 103, §1. Amended by Acts 1979, No. 795, §1; Acts 1990, No. 869, §1, eff. July 25, 1990.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3325 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3325
Officers; vacancies; compensation
Status: in_force

A. The commissioners shall elect from their membership a chairman, a vice chairman, and a secretary-treasurer. The duties of the officers shall be fixed by the bylaws adopted by the board.

B. Any vacancy which occurs in the membership of the board shall be filled in the same manner as required for the member being replaced.

C. The commissioners shall serve without compensation, except per diem or expense reimbursement to which they may be individually entitled as members of their constituent organizations.

D. All commissioners shall be subject to the Code of Governmental Ethics.

Acts 2023, No. 323, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:457 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 457
Issuance from time to time; differences in date, maturity or interest
Status: in_force

It is the intent of this Subpart that the boards of commissioners may issue bonds under the provisions of this Subpart for the purpose of paying, refunding, or refinancing the principal and interest of any valid outstanding bonds, notes, or certificates of indebtedness heretofore or hereafter issued by any levee districts or levee and drainage districts for lawful purposes, and the boards of commissioners may issue bonds hereunder from time to time and in the amounts which the board may deem necessary or expedient subject only to the limitations of this Subpart. The provisions of this Subpart shall not be construed to require that all of the bonds authorized hereunder shall bear the same date, date of maturity, or rate of interest. Except as provided in R.S. 38:453, 38:454, and 38:455, all bonds authorized to be issued under the provisions of this Subpart regardless of variance of date, dates of maturity, rates of interest, or the respective dates of delivery shall rank on a parity in the distribution and application of the taxes and other revenues of the district.

Acts 1985, No. 785, §1, eff. July 22, 1985.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3097.8 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3097.8
Semiannual reports regarding groundwater quality and saltwater intrusion
Status: in_force

A. On or before May first and November first every year, each ground water conservation district created by law or designated as a regional body, pursuant to R.S. 38:3097.4(D)(6), shall submit to the secretary, the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality, and the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment a written report detailing the district's ground water resources and the activities and actions taken with respect to each of the district's powers delineated by laws creating the district. The report shall also include but not be limited to the amount of water used for residential, commercial or industrial, or agricultural purposes, respectively; actual and projected saltwater intrusion or encroachment; and any current or projected sale of water for use outside of the state, including the amount of water so sold and the price paid by each out-of-state user.

B. For purposes of the semiannual report, the amount of water used for agricultural or industrial purposes may be estimated.

C. The secretary shall promulgate a form with a checklist of the pertinent information required to be included in the semi-annual report.

D. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the Sparta Groundwater Conservation District provided for in R.S. 38:3087.131 et seq.

Acts 2012, No. 790, §1, eff. June 13, 2012; Acts 2017, No. 425, §1; Acts 2018, No. 316, §1; Acts 2025, No. 458, §5, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3055 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3055
Cooperative agreements; information
Status: in_force

Commission is authorized and empowered to make such inquiries as it may deem necessary for its purpose and may through committees or representatives of commission conduct meetings and enter into cooperative agreements with any agency, or subdivision of the State of Louisiana or the U.S. Government and commission may provide information and obtain information.

Added by Acts 1970, No. 682, §5.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.4
Board of commissioners, appointment; tenure; vacancies; compensation
Status: in_force

A. The district shall be governed and controlled by a board of ten commissioners, each of whom shall be a qualified elector of the state of Louisiana who resides within the limits of Richland, Madison, West Carroll, and East Carroll parishes. The members of the board of commissioners shall be appointed by the governor as follows:

(1) One member shall be appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the governing authority of Richland Parish.

(2) One member shall be appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the governing authority of Madison Parish.

(3) One member shall be appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the governing authority of West Carroll Parish.

(4) One member shall be appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the governing authority of East Carroll Parish.

(5) Six members shall be appointed at the discretion of the governor, two of whom shall be minorities.

B. Initial appointments shall be made for staggered terms as specified herein and at the termination of these initial terms of office, each term of office shall be for six years. Initial terms shall be as follows as designated by the governor:

(1) Two members, consisting of two appointments from names submitted by the governing authorities, shall be appointed for two-year terms.

(2) Two members, consisting of two appointments from names submitted by the governing authorities, shall be appointed for four-year terms.

(3) Six members, consisting of six appointments at the discretion of the governor, shall be appointed for six-year terms.

C. Any vacancy which occurs prior to the expiration of the term for which a member of the board of commissioners has been appointed shall be filled by the governor for the unexpired term.

D. Members of the board of commissioners shall receive no compensation for their services.

Acts 1992, No. 888, §2, eff. July 8, 1992; Acts 1993, No. 890, §2; Acts 2018, No. 226, §1, eff. May 15, 2018.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2319.6 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2319.6
Appropriation dependency
Status: in_force

All equipment-lease-purchase contracts entered into pursuant to this Part shall contain an annual appropriation dependency requirement to the effect that the renewal and continuation of such contract is contingent upon the appropriation of funds to fulfill the requirements of the contract and if the local governmental entity, after a diligent and good faith effort, fails to appropriate sufficient monies to provide for payments under the contract, the obligation to make payment under the contract shall terminate in accordance with the terms of the contract on the last day of the last fiscal year for which funds were appropriated, provided the equipment is returned to the nonprofit lessor or his agent, as provided in the equipment-lease-purchase contract, and such contract shall not be a long-term debt of the local governmental entity. In addition, in such equipment-lease-purchase contracts, the nonprofit lessor shall covenant and agree to indemnify and hold the lessee harmless against any loss, damage, liability, cost, penalty, or expense, including attorney's fees, which is not otherwise agreed to by the lessee in the equipment-lease-purchase contract and which is incurred and arises upon a failure of the local governmental entity to appropriate funds in the manner described above for a continuation of the contract or the exercise of the option to purchase the selected equipment.

Acts 1985, No. 758, §1, eff. July 17, 1985.

{{NOTE: SEE ACTS 1985, NO. 758, §§5 AND 6.}}
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2835 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2835
Constructions impeding flow of waters prohibited
Status: in_force

No person or public corporation shall erect within the drainage area of the district any dam or reservoir upon any stream or water course therein or any work or obstruction diminishing the cross section of any such stream or water course until a copy of the plans thereof has been filed with the Board of Commissioners and the State Department of Public Works, for approval or rejection by both.

Added by Acts 1966, No 262, §15.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3072 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3072
District; creation
Status: in_force

There is hereby created the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation District, hereinafter called "district," which shall be composed of the parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.

Added by Acts 1974, No. 678, §1. Amended by Acts 1976, No. 231, §1; Acts 2019, No. 200, §1; Acts 2025, No. 458, §5, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2225.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2225.4
Expansion of certain convention centers
Status: in_force

A political subdivision of the state in Orleans Parish which has been involved in litigation before the highest court of this state pertaining to the award of a contract for the construction of the expansion of a convention center to be funded with funds of the state and the political subdivision may negotiate with respect to the price, conditions, and terms of the contract to be entered into with the party that is awarded the contract pursuant to a writ of mandamus from a district court and affirmed by the appellate courts. Prior to the execution of the contract, it shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget for review and approval. If approved by the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, the execution of the contract shall resolve any and all claims and disputes between the parties arising out of the award of the public bid.

Acts 2005, No. 178, §1, eff. June 28, 2005; Acts 2011, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 5, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.112 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.112
Location
Status: in_force

The district shall be comprised of all of Concordia Parish, to include precincts 4-6, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, and 5-7.

Acts 1999, No. 588, §1; Acts 2014, No. 207, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:92 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 92
Financing projects through the capital outlay program
Status: in_force

A. The state of Louisiana, in furtherance of its program of financing the state share of the cost of approved projects under the Statewide Flood-Control Program and one hundred percent of the cost of modifications to drainage structures located in state highway rights-of-way as provided in R.S. 38:90.9(4), hereby recognizes the state's responsibility to provide its share of project funding in a timely fashion under the following conditions:

(1) The project shall have been sponsored in a legal manner by a local agency or by two or more agencies jointly.

(2) The project shall have been approved through the legal steps of application, screening, and reviews under the statewide flood-control program.

(3) The project shall have been assured to the satisfaction of the state of Louisiana that adequate funding of the local agency share will be made available through the issuance of local agency bonds or other legal means of financing.

(4) The amount of state funds available for the project by the current statewide flood-control allocation is not sufficient to cover the state share of the cost of the segment or phase of the project which has been approved, particularly to include but not to be limited to pump stations, levee systems, control or relief gates, and other such unitized features of the project which cannot be practically built in smaller segments or which must be built in its complete form to serve its design function.

(5) The amount of state funds required for the approved segment or phase of the project cannot be confidently anticipated to be available in the subsequent three years funding allocations for the statewide flood-control program as needed to build or construct the entire unitized segment or phase that has been approved.

(6) The review and approval process for the statewide flood-control program shall have certified to the above stipulated conditions.

(7) All of the executive and legislative offices of the state of Louisiana required to review and approve the budget processes necessary for state appropriation of funds for both the statewide flood-control program and the capital outlay program shall have been presented with the information needed to include the funds required for the project or projects in the current budget for the capital outlay program.

B. In order to provide funds for statewide flood control projects under the conditions stipulated above, and where the approved project cannot be totally funded, within three fiscal years, based on the prior year's funding level, the budget of the capital outlay programs for the fiscal period for the Statewide Flood-Control Program in which the project or projects are approved may include funds over and above those provided in the statewide flood control budget, to carry out the state's responsibility for the state share of the funding of projects approved and one hundred percent of the funding for modifications to drainage structures located in state highway rights-of-way as stipulated in the provisions of this Chapter. Any such appropriation shall be approved by the House Committee on Ways and Means or the House Committee on Appropriations prior to submission for adoption by the House of Representatives, or be approved by the Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs or the Senate Finance Committee prior to submission to the Senate for approval.

Acts 1985, No. 968, §1; Acts 1995, No. 607, §1, eff. June 18, 1995; Acts 1999, No. 999, §1, eff. July 9, 1999.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:386 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 386
Abandonment in trial and appellate court
Status: in_force

A. An owner's claim for an increase in the compensation is abandoned when he fails to take any step in the prosecution of that claim for a period of five years. This provision shall be operative without formal order, but on ex parte motion of the levee district or levee and drainage district, the trial court shall render final judgment fixing just compensation in the amount deposited in the registry of the court and awarding that sum to the defendant and dismissing with prejudice any claim for any increase in compensation.

B. An appeal is abandoned when the parties fail to take any step in its prosecution or disposition for the period provided in the rules of the appellate court, which shall be not less than one year.

Acts 1985, No. 785, §1, eff. July 22, 1985.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.9 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.9
Construction which would impede flow of water in reservoir prohibited; pollution defined and prohibited; penalties fixed for violations
Status: in_force

A.(1) No person or public corporation shall erect within the drainage area of the district any dam or reservoir upon any stream or water course which will affect the proposed lake until a copy of the plans thereof has been filed with the board of commissioners for approval.

(2) Whoever violates this Subsection shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars or more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than sixty days, or both.

B.(1) No person shall knowingly and willfully empty or drain into, or permit to be drained from any pumps, reservoirs, wells, or oil fields into any stream or drain constituting the watershed of the proposed lake or from any stream within said district into the said reservoir any oil, salt water, or other noxious or poisonous gases or substances which would render the water unfit for irrigation purposes or would destroy aquatic and fish life in the streams.

(2) Each and every day that oil, salt water, or other substances are permitted to flow into natural streams or drains which constitute the watershed of the proposed lake shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.

(3) Whoever violates this Subsection shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars or more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than three months, or both.

C.(1) No person shall:

(a) Obstruct drainage channels which compose any drain or stream flowing into the proposed lake by bridging them except in accordance with plans, specifications, and instructions prescribed by the board of commissioners of the district.

(b) Construct dams, locks, or gates in drainage channels of the said watershed of the proposed lake without permission of the commission.

(c) Anchor rafts, crafts, fish traps, fish cars, and other obstacles in the channel of any stream, drain, or natural flow of the feeder streams of the watershed of the proposed lake.

(d) Drain into channels by natural or artificial inlets, except under regulations prescribed by the board of commissioners.

(e) Float timber in the watershed of the proposed lake.

(f) Use the channels for transportation or commercial navigation, except under authority of and agreement with the board of commissioners.

(2) Whoever violates this Subsection shall be fined not less than two hundred and fifty dollars or more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than sixty days, or both.

D.(1) No proprietor, owner, lessee, or possessor of land abutting upon the reservoir of the proposed lake or upon any public road paralleling the water line or contiguous to the reservoir of the proposed lake shall in any manner close or place any obstruction in the drains or ditches, whether on private property or on the public road or levee adjacent to the road which will in any manner interfere with the effective, thorough, and continuous drainage into the reservoir.

(2) Whoever violates this Subsection shall be fined not less than two hundred and fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for more than sixty days, or both.

Acts 1992, No. 888, §2, eff. July 8, 1992; Acts 1993, No. 601, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:405 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 405
Procedure for levying increased taxation
Status: in_force

Whenever the commissioners of any levee district or levee and drainage district shall deem it necessary to increase the rate of taxation for levee purposes in their districts beyond the limit named in Article VI, Section 39 of the Louisiana Constitution, they shall by a majority vote pass a resolution setting forth the reason for an increased rate of taxation and ordering the rate of taxation which they may deem necessary to be submitted to a vote of the electors of their districts.

Acts 1985, No. 785, §1, eff. July 22, 1985.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.85 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.85
Contracts let by board
Status: in_force

A. Any and all contracts of the district shall be let by the board of commissioners under the provisions of the Public Bid Law, R.S. 38:2181 et seq.

B. The board of commissioners, the Department of Transportation and Development, or both may execute any and all work with their own forces and equipment and under department or board supervision, or the work may be executed on behalf of and for the benefit of the district by the state of Louisiana, or any agency, or department thereof.

Acts 1995, No. 345, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2702 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2702
Location
Status: in_force

The area comprising all of Red River Parish shall be the boundary of the district.

Acts 1958, No. 474, §2; Acts 1989, No. 176, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.124 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.124
Tax exemption; mineral leases unabridged
Status: in_force

Should the district or the Department of Transportation and Development acquire a servitude, right of use, or title in full ownership to immovable property or any other property, such property shall not be subject to any ad valorem tax or tax of any nature by the state of Louisiana or any political subdivision thereof so long as such property is used for the purpose of the district. The provisions of this Part shall in no way abridge the right of any individual, person, firm, or corporation from whom a servitude or right of use may have been acquired to lease the land subject thereto for the production of oil, gas, or other minerals and to produce or cause to be produced oil, gas, or other minerals from such property so long as said leases are subject to the terms and conditions of the servitude executed in favor of the commission.

Acts 1999, No. 588, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1668 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1668
Chief engineer of reorganized district
Status: in_force

When any existing drainage district or districts have been reorganized, and a board of commissioners has been appointed and qualified, the board shall employ a chief engineer, and thereafter all proceedings relative to the reclamation, assessment, taxation, and maintenance of the lands of the reorganized drainage district shall be had as provided in this Part in the case of a new district. The engineer of the reorganized drainage district in preparing the plan for reclamation thereof, or of any sub-district thereof, shall prepare a plan that will afford complete and entire reclamation and drainage of the district or sub-district, and which will provide for the completion of any work of reclamation or drainage undertaken prior to reorganization, as well as the restoration, enlargement or improvement of any works theretofore constructed, or the construction of new works.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1659 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1659
Readjustment of assessment of benefits
Status: in_force

Whenever the owners of twenty-five per cent or more of the acreage of the lands in a district or sub-district organized under this Part, shall file a petition with the clerk of the district court which confirmed the report of the appraisers as provided in R.S. 38:1628, stating that there has been a material change in the values of the property in the district since the last previous assessment of benefits and praying for a readjustment of the assessment of benefits for the purpose of making a more equitable basis for the levy of the maintenance tax, the clerk of the district court shall give notice of the filing and hearing of the petition in the manner and for the time provided for in R.S. 38:1627 and shall fix the date of hearing the petition which date shall not be less than ten days after the date of the last publication of the notice, or if posting of the notice was made, then not less than thirty days after the last posting of the notice. The notice may be in the following form:

Notice is hereby given to all persons interested in the lands and property included within __________ District that a petition has been filed in the office of the clerk of the district court of ___________ parish praying for a readjustment of the assessment of benefits for the purpose of making a more equitable basis for the levy of the maintenance tax in the district, and that the petition will be heard by said district court on the _____ day of __________ 19 ___ (Here insert date).

_____________________________

Clerk of the District Court of

___________ Parish, Louisiana.

The petition shall be filed in the same proceeding as originally brought as provided in R.S. 38:1627.

Upon hearing of the petition, if the court finds that there has been a material change in the values of property in the district since the last assessment of benefits the court shall order that there be made a readjustment of the assessment of benefits for the purpose of providing a basis upon which to levy the maintenance tax of the district. Thereupon the court shall appoint three appraisers possessing the qualifications of appraisers appointed under R.S. 38:1623, to make the readjustment of assessments.

The clerk of court shall notify the appraisers of their appointment, and they shall organize and qualify as provided in R.S. 38:1624, and shall proceed to examine the land and reassess benefits in the same manner as nearly as may be as provided in R.S. 38:1625 and 38:1626, and shall make their report, and the same proceedings shall be had thereon, as nearly as may be, as are herein provided for the assessment of benefits accruing for original construction. In making the readjustment of the assessment of benefits the appraisers shall not be limited to the aggregate assessment of the original or any previous assessment of benefits. After the making of the readjustment the limitation of five per cent for the annual maintenance tax which may be levied shall apply to the amount of benefits as readjusted. There shall be no readjustment of benefits oftener than once in five years.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:341 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 341
Realignment of portion of Red River by Caddo Levee District
Status: in_force

The board of the district may utilize all powers and authority heretofore granted it to locate, construct, maintain, and protect a realignment of that portion of the Red River located in an area composed of Sections 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, and 23, Township 20 North, Range 14 West, and Sections 34 and 35, Township 21 North, Range 14 West, in Bossier and Caddo Parishes, Louisiana, and, in furtherance thereof, may additionally cause property located within the area described and outside the limits of any other levee district to be appropriated, expropriated, or otherwise acquired in the same manner and to the same extent as if the property were located wholly within the Caddo Levee District.

Acts 1985, No. 785, §1, eff. July 22, 1985.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1603 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1603
Creation of districts embracing lands in more than one parish
Status: in_force

When it seems desirable in the opinion of the parish governing authorities acting on their own initiative, to create drainage districts composed of contiguous lands situated partly in one parish and partly in one or more adjoining parishes, the drainage district may be created either by joint resolution of the respective governing authorities of the parishes or by an ordinance of the governing authority of one of the parishes approved by the governing authority of the other parish or parishes.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:417 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 417
Issuance of warrants for compensation of assessors upon completion of duties
Status: in_force

The state auditor shall not audit or warrant the compensation of any assessor of the state whose parish or any portion thereof lies within a levee district or levee and drainage district until the assessor shall exhibit to and file with the auditor a certificate from the president of the levee board or levee and drainage board showing that he has performed the duties imposed upon him by R.S. 38:416.

Acts 1985, No. 785, §1, eff. July 22, 1985.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.232 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.232
Contracts let by board
Status: in_force

Any and all contracts of the district shall be let by the board of commissioners under the provisions of R.S. 38:2181 et seq.

Acts 2003, No. 328, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1676 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1676
Tax sale properties; confirmation of title
Status: in_force

A. Where drainage districts organized under Article 15 of the constitution of 1921, and R.S. 38:1601 through 38:1675, have acquired property located in said districts at tax sales made by the sheriffs and ex-officio tax collectors of the parishes wherein such sales were made, and the three year period in which the property may be redeemed shall have expired, that all right, title, and interest in and to said property be and the same is hereby ratified and confirmed unto said districts, and the said districts shall have the right to sell at public or private sale, said lands in whole or in such parts as may be deemed proper and advisable by said districts, and under such terms and conditions as may be deemed advisable by said districts.

B. Where judgments have been obtained against any such districts by the holders of outstanding bonds for the amount of any outstanding bonded indebtedness and pursuant to such judgments execution has been levied against said districts, and the properties of the district have been purchased at execution sale, including properties acquired at tax sales, and the three year redemption period has expired, any such sales, and the titles thereby acquired are hereby fully ratified and confirmed so as to invest in any such purchaser full and unencumbered fee title.

Added by Acts 1962, No. 332, §§1, 2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1844 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1844
Powers of board
Status: in_force

The board of commissioners may open all natural drains in the district, cut and open new drains, and do any other work of drainage they may deem necessary. They may enter into contracts for the construction of drainage work or they may construct drainage works under their own supervision, or with the aid and assistance of any governmental or state agency. They may employ an engineer and an attorney and fix their respective fees and provide for the payment thereof. They may do any and all things necessary and incidental to carry out the purposes of this Part.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:3087.63 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 3087.63
Mineral rights
Status: in_force

Whenever it shall become necessary for the district or the Department of Transportation and Development to acquire full ownership of any land for the purpose of constructing any work or facility within the district, the owner thereof in his own behalf or in behalf of his assigns in the event of a prior assignment may retain the mineral rights to such property together with the right to grant mineral leases and servitudes thereon. No form of prescription shall divest such owner or his assigns of these rights so long as the district or a department or agency of the state retains the ownership of the property, but should ownership pass into private hands, the prescription of nonuse provided by R.S. 31:27 shall apply as in the usual case.

Acts 1995, No. 443, §2, eff. June 17, 1995.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1584 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1584
Awarding contract; resolution authorizing execution of contract
Status: in_force

A. Except in the case of joint projects undertaken as provided and authorized by R.S. 38:1583(B), the governing authority of the district or its authorized officer or agent shall receive bids on the date and at the place and hour named in the notice calling for bids and shall there publicly open and tabulate the bids. The contract shall thereafter be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder who can furnish satisfactory security. The governing authority may, however, reject any and all bids and at any time within a period of thirty days from the date of the reception and opening of the bids award the contract for the work without further advertisement, provided that no contract shall be let for an amount greater than that specified in the lowest sealed bid received from a responsible bidder.

B. The contract awarded under the provisions of this Part shall be authorized by resolution authorizing an officer of the governing authority to execute the contract for, on behalf of, and in the name of the district. It shall not be necessary to set forth the contract in full in the resolution, but it shall be sufficient if the resolution refers to a copy of the contract on file in the office of the clerk or secretary where it is available for public inspection. The resolution shall be published in one issue of the official journal of the district, and a certified copy thereof shall be filed with the clerk of court of the parish in which the district is located and shall be by him duly recorded in the mortgage records of the parish.

C. When joint street and drainage projects are undertaken, bids shall be taken and received and the contract for such joint project awarded by the agency carrying out the street or road improvements, all in strict accordance and compliance with the provisions of law applicable to such street or road improvements.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 708, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:2225.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 2225.1
Contracts in which the state or political subdivision are participants; preferences; assistance; exclusions
Status: in_force

A. When a participating state agency lets a contract for a public works project that is to be administered by or paid for, in whole or in part by state funds, the agency may require as a condition of letting the contract that not less than eighty percent of the persons employed in fulfilling that contract shall be residents of the state of Louisiana.

B.(1) When a participating political subdivision lets a contract for a public works project that is to be administered by or paid for, in whole or in part, by said political subdivision's funds, the governing authority of the political subdivision may require, as a condition of letting the contract, that not less than eighty percent of the persons employed in fulfilling that contract be residents of the state of Louisiana.

(2) In addition, when the governing authority of Calcasieu Parish may, upon a finding that there is substantial cause to counteract grave economic and social ills, require, as a condition of letting contracts for public works to be paid for solely with parish funds, that not less than fifty percent of the persons employed in fulfilling that contract be residents of Calcasieu Parish. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Paragraph, management personnel and persons whose skills are unavailable for performing the work may be excluded from the requirements of this Paragraph, as said governing authority may determine and provide for in the bid specifications.

C. Louisiana Works, upon request of any state agency, the governing authority of a political subdivision, or a contractor awarded a contract under the provision of this Section, shall assist in identifying craftsmen, laborers, and any other personnel necessary to comply with the requirements of this Section.

D. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, management personnel, and persons whose skills are unavailable for performing the work, shall be excluded from the requirements of this Section.

Acts 1984, No. 361, §1; Acts 1989, No. 787, §1; Acts 1992, No. 447, §4, eff. June 20, 1992; Acts 2008, No. 743, §7, eff. July 1, 2008.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:1481 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 1481
Designation of place other than domicile for holding meetings
Status: in_force

Hereafter, whenever the board of commissioners for any drainage district has organized by meeting at its domicile as designated by the police jury creating the drainage district, the board of commissioners for the drainage district, by unanimous vote of all of the commissioners composing the board, at a meeting of the board held at the domicile, may designate a public place for holding their meetings other than the domicile of the board. The public place so designated shall be either at the parish seat of the parish within which the drainage district is located or at the nearest town, which the drainage commissioners deem most convenient to the drainage board and the people having business transactions therewith.
La. Rev. Stat. § 38:12 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 38 / Section 12
Establishment of divisions; appointment of heads
Status: in_force

The work of the department, other than that performed by the director or assigned to the board, shall be distributed among the divisions provided by or established in accordance with this Chapter. The heads of divisions shall be appointed by the director subject to any provisions of law in effect. Except as the internal organization structure of the department and the establishment of divisions are specially provided by this Chapter, the governor, on recommendation of the director, may authorize the director to combine existing divisions, divide existing divisions, establish new divisions, change the names of divisions, add new functions to existing divisions, or transfer functions and staff from one division to another within the department. The director with the approval of the Board of Public Works may create, combine, or divide subordinate units within a division or otherwise alter the internal organization of a division.