Opinion ID: 1859439
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Legislative History of the Local Services Law and the Quick Taking Statutes

Text: The Local Services Law, La.Rev.Stat. 33:1321-1339, was enacted by the Legislature by La. Acts 1942, No. 246. The purpose of the Act, as stated in the preamble, was to promote economy and efficiency in the performance of local functions and services, and to extend these benefits by authorizing parishes, municipalities and special districts to engage in intergovernmental and extra-territorial services and functions. In particular, Section 1324 authorizes two or more parishes, municipalities and other political subdivisions to act jointly in the construction of a public project, provided that at least one of the participants to the agreement is authorized under a provision of general or special law to exercise such power as may be necessary for the completion of the undertaking. Section 1324(2) specifically authorizes activities concerning public utility services, such as ... roads, ... and other highway facilities.... Section 1323 of the Local Services Law states that its provisions shall be construed liberally to the end that, through the use of the arrangements provided herein, greater economy and efficiency in the operation of local services may be encouraged, and the benefits of such services may be extended. Also pertinent to this litigation are two other acts which the Legislature adopted in 1954. First, La. Rev. Stat. 48:1251-1281, the Louisiana Expressway Law, created the Louisiana Expressway Authority (now the DOTD) to provide for the construction, maintenance, repair and operation of highway projects in the state. In particular, Section 1259 granted the Authority the power of eminent domain. [4] When enacted, Section 1259 provided that eminent domain proceedings could be instituted and conducted in the name of the Authority under the procedure prescribed by La. Rev. Stat. 19:51-66 relating to expropriation prior to judgment in the trial court. La. Rev. Stat. 48:441-460, also enacted in 1954, provided an additional method [5] by which the Department of Highways (now the DOTD) may expropriate property for highway purposes prior to judgment in the trial court. The courts have determined that these statutes, commonly referred to the quick taking statutes, are reasonable statutory restrictions on the right to own property, not violative of the due process provisions of La. Const. art. I, § 2 and U.S. Const. amend. V and XIV. State Through Dep't of Highways v. Olinkraft, Inc., 350 So.2d 865, 868 (La.1977), cert. denied, 435 U.S. 924, 98 S.Ct. 1489, 55 L.Ed.2d 518 (1978). In 1956, La.Rev.Stat. 33:1329 of the Local Services Law, which originally was composed of one paragraph, was amended to add a second paragraph, granting any parish or municipality the full power and authority to acquire by expropriation or condemnation any land declared to be necessary in connection with the joint exercise of any power authorized and anticipated. In cases of condemnation, the parish, municipality or commission was specifically given the right to invoke, and was compelled to follow, the procedures outlined in La.Rev.Stat. 48:1259. In 1970, La.Rev.Stat. 48:1259 [6] was amended to replace the reference to La. Rev.Stat. 19:51-66 regarding procedures for expropriation with a reference to La. Rev.Stat. 48:441-460. [7]