HB 247

ENROLLED
 2026 Regular Session
  ACT No. 398
 HOUSE BILL NO. 247
 BY REPRESENTATIVE CARRIER
1AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 33:2740.70.11 and to repeal R.S. 33:4574(B)(3), 4574.1.1(A)(3), and 4574.14,
3relative to Allen Parish; to create the Allen Parish Economic Development District;
4to provide relative to the boundaries, purpose, governance, and powers and duties of
5the district; to provide for district funding; to provide relative to the Allen Parish
6Tourist Commission; to provide relative to the governing board of the commission;
7to provide relative to the compensation of board members; to provide relative to
8taxes levied by the commission; to repeal provisions that provide for the creation of
9the commission; to abolish the commission; to provide relative to the funds and
10property of the commission; and to provide for related matters.
11Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
12as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
13Louisiana.
14 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
15Section 1. R.S. 33:2740.70.11 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
16§2740.70.11. Allen Parish Economic Development District
17A. There is hereby created within the parish of Allen, as more specifically
18provided in Subsection B of this Section, a body politic and corporate which shall
19be known as the Allen Parish Economic Development District, referred to in this
20Section as the "district". The district shall be a political subdivision of the state as
21defined in the Constitution of Louisiana.
22B. The boundaries of the district shall encompass all of the territorial
23jurisdiction of the parish of Allen.
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1C.    The district is created to provide for cooperative economic and
2community development among the district, the parish, the state, and the owners of
3property in the district; to provide for tourism-related initiatives; to enhance the
4development of and improvement to the property within the area of the district; to
5develop stable and more extensive employment opportunities;  to improve
6infrastructure; and to promote the overall welfare of the citizens of the district.
7D.(1) In order to provide for the orderly development of the district and
8effect the purposes of the district, the district shall be administered and governed by
9a board of commissioners, referred to in this Section as the "board", composed of
10five members as follows:
11(a) The president of the Allen Parish Industrial Development Board.
12(b) The president of the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce.
13(c) The president of the Kinder Chamber of Commerce.
14(d) The president of the governing authority of the parish of Allen.
15(e) The member of the Louisiana House of Representatives whose district
16encompasses all or the greater portion of the area of the district, or his designee.
17(2) The members of the board shall serve during their terms of office. Any
18designee shall serve at the pleasure of the designating authority.
19(3) The board shall elect from its members a president, a vice president, a
20secretary, a treasurer, and such other officers as it may deem necessary. The duties
21of the officers shall be fixed by the bylaws adopted by the board.
22(4) The minute books and archives of the district shall be maintained by the
23secretary of the board. The monies, funds, and accounts of the district shall be in the
24official custody of the board.
25(5) The board shall adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary
26or advisable for conducting its business affairs. It shall hold regular meetings as
27shall be provided for in the bylaws and may hold special meetings at such times and
28places within the district as may be prescribed in the bylaws.
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1(6) A majority of the voting members of the board shall constitute a quorum
2for the transaction of business. The board shall keep minutes of all meetings and
3shall make them available through the secretary of the board to residents of the
4district.
5(7) The members of the board shall serve without compensation; however,
6they may be reimbursed for expenses incurred while attending to the business of the
7board or the district.
8E.(1) The district, acting by and through its board, shall have and exercise
9all powers of a political subdivision necessary or convenient for carrying out its
10objects and purposes, including but not limited to the following:
11(a) To sue and to be sued.
12(b) To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.
13(c) To adopt bylaws and rules and regulations.
14(d) To receive by gift, grant, or donation any sum of money, property, aid,
15or assistance from the United States, the state of Louisiana, or any political
16subdivision thereof, or any person, firm, or corporation.
17(e) To enter into contracts, agreements, or cooperative endeavors with the
18state and its political subdivisions or political corporations and with any public or
19private association, corporation, business entity, or individual.
20(f) To appoint officers, agents, and employees; prescribe their duties; and
21fix their compensation.
22(g) To acquire by purchase, gift, grant, donation, or lease property as may
23be necessary or desirable for carrying out the objectives and purposes of the board.
24(h) To perform any other necessary and ancillary acts to effectuate its
25functions, to perform its duties, or to give effect to its powers in accordance with this
26Section.
27(2) The board shall not exercise any power, except the power to levy a
28occupancy tax as authorized in this Section, without the approval of the governing
29authority of the parish of Allen.
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1F.(1) The district may levy and collect a tax upon the paid occupancy of
2hotel rooms and overnight camping facilities located within the district. The
3occupancy tax shall not exceed three percent of the rent or fee charged for such
4occupancy.
5(2)(a) The term "hotel" as used in this Section shall have the same definition
6as that contained in R.S. 47:301(6).
7(b) The term "overnight camping facility" as used in this Section shall mean
8any commercial establishment providing space and utilities in order to accommodate
9recreational vehicles on a temporary, overnight basis.
10(3) The person who exercises or is entitled to occupancy of the hotel room
11or overnight camping facility shall pay the occupancy tax at the time the rent or fee
12for occupancy is paid. "Person" as used in this Paragraph shall have the same
13definition as that contained in R.S. 47:301(8).
14(4) The occupancy tax shall be in addition to all taxes levied upon the
15occupancy of hotel rooms and overnight camping facilities located within the city.
16(5) The district may enter into a contract with any public entity authorized
17to collect sales or use taxes, under terms and conditions it considers appropriate,
18including payment of a reasonable collection fee for the collection of the occupancy
19tax authorized in this Subsection.
20(6) Any monies received by the district shall be used exclusively for the
21benefit of the district.
22G.(1) The board shall prepare or cause to be prepared a plan or plans
23specifying the public improvements, facilities, and services proposed to be furnished,
24constructed, or acquired for the district and shall conduct public hearings, publish
25notice with respect thereto, and disseminate information as it, in the exercise of its
26sound discretion, deems appropriate or advisable and in the public interest.
27(2) Any plan may specify and encompass any public services, capital
28improvements, and facilities which the parish of Allen is authorized to undertake,
29furnish, or provide under the constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, and the
30specified public services, improvements, and facilities shall be special and in
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1addition to all services, improvements, and facilities which the parish is then
2furnishing or providing or may then or in the future be obligated to furnish or
3provide within the district.
4(3) Any plan shall include an estimate of the annual and total cost of
5acquiring, constructing, or providing the services, improvements, or facilities set
6forth therein.
7H.(1) The board shall adopt an annual budget in accordance with the
8Louisiana Local Government Budget Act, R.S. 39:1301 et seq.
9(2) The district shall be subject to audit by the legislative auditor pursuant
10to R.S. 24:513.
11I. All state officers and agencies are authorized at their discretion to render
12such services to the district within their respective functions as may be requested by
13the district. In addition, the district and such agencies are authorized to enter into
14such contracts, cooperative endeavor agreements, or other agreements necessary or
15convenient to carry out the purposes of this Section.
16Section 2. R.S. 33:4574(B)(3), 4574.1.1(A)(3), and 4574.14 are hereby repealed in
17 their entirety.
18Section 3. All remaining funds and property of the Allen Parish Tourist Commission
19 shall be transferred to the Allen Parish Economic Development District. The funds shall be
20 held in a separate account and shall be used for the purpose of attracting conventions and
21 tourists into the area and former jurisdiction of the commission.
  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
  GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
 APPROVED:
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