§3086.23. Board of commissioners; membership; officers; vacancies

A.(1) The board shall be composed of twelve members selected as follows: two members appointed to represent the parish of Ascension, two members appointed to represent the parish of Assumption, four members appointed to represent the parish of Lafourche, and four members appointed to represent the parish of Terrebonne, all as otherwise provided by this Subsection.

(2)(a) The president of the governing authority of the parish of Ascension shall appoint one commissioner who shall be a resident of the parish of Ascension, who resides within the district, and who shall serve a term of four years.

(b) The legislative delegation of the parish of Ascension shall appoint one commissioner who shall be a resident of the parish of Ascension who resides within the district and who shall serve a term of four years.

(3) The president of the governing authority of the parish of Assumption shall appoint two commissioners who are residents of the parish of Assumption, who reside within the district, and who shall serve terms of four years.

(4)(a) Four commissioners shall be residents of the parish of Lafourche appointed by the governor from a list of nominees submitted to the governor as provided in this Paragraph. Each appointment by the governor shall be subject to Senate confirmation and each such commissioner shall serve a term of four years.

(b) One commissioner shall be a resident of the parish of Lafourche who shall be appointed by the governor from a list of names submitted by a majority of the members of the legislature representing that portion of the parish of Lafourche which is north of the railroad tracks traversing the parish east to west and which cross Bayou Lafourche in the area known as Lafourche Crossing. This commissioner shall reside in that portion of the parish north of such railroad tracks.

(c) One commissioner shall be a resident of the parish of Lafourche who shall be appointed by the governor from a list of names submitted by a majority of the members of the legislature representing that portion of the parish of Lafourche which is south of the railroad tracks traversing the parish east to west which cross Bayou Lafourche in the area known as Lafourche Crossing and north of the Intracoastal Waterway. This commissioner shall reside in that portion of the parish between such railroad tracks and the Intracoastal Waterway.

(d) One commissioner shall be a resident of the parish of Lafourche who shall be appointed by the governor from a list of names submitted by a majority of the members of the legislature representing that portion of the parish of Lafourche which is south of the Intracoastal Waterway. This commissioner shall reside in that portion of the parish south of the Intracoastal Waterway.

(e) One commissioner shall be a resident of the parish of Lafourche who shall be appointed by the governor from a list of names submitted by a majority of the members of the legislature whose legislative districts include all or a portion of the parish of Lafourche.

(5)(a) Four commissioners shall be residents of the parish of Terrebonne appointed by the governor, subject to Senate confirmation, from nominations and subject to further residency requirements as follows:

(i) The governor shall appoint two residents of that portion of the parish north of the Intracoastal Waterway from a single list of nominations submitted by a majority of members of the state legislature representing that portion of the parish.

(ii) The governor shall appoint two residents of that portion of the parish south of the Intracoastal Waterway from a single list of nominations submitted by a majority of members of the state legislature representing that portion of the parish.

(b) Members appointed pursuant to this Paragraph shall serve four-year terms.

B. A vacancy in an unexpired term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the balance of the unexpired term.

C. The members so selected and appointed shall meet within thirty days after the appointment last made. They shall elect a chairman, a vice chairman, and a secretary-treasurer.

D. Notwithstanding the provisions of Act No. 615 of the 1999 Regular Session of the Legislature to the contrary, the board may, at its own discretion, employ an attorney or may use the services of the district attorney's office in the affected parishes of the district. The board may employ such other employees as may be necessary and fix their respective salaries. The board may also fix the per diem and mileage allowed to its members. The per diem may not exceed seventy-five dollars per meeting and shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars per month.

E. The board shall fix its own meeting dates and adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary for its own government.

F. Any commissioner appointed pursuant to the provisions herein may be removed for cause by the appointing authority.

Acts 2003, No. 187, §1; Acts 2005, No. 2, §1, eff. upon approval, and §3, eff. May 27, 2005; Acts 2006, No. 827, §1.