2013 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 25 - Libraries, Museums, and Other Scientific
RS 25:941 - Louisiana Historic Cemetery Trust Advisory Board; creation; membership

§941. Louisiana Historic Cemetery Trust Advisory Board; creation; membership

A. There is hereby created the Louisiana Historic Cemetery Trust Advisory Board within the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, office of cultural development, division of archaeology.

B.(1) The Louisiana Historic Cemetery Trust Advisory Board shall be comprised of nine members as follows:

(a) The lieutenant governor, or his designee.

(b) One member shall be appointed by the Louisiana Cemetery Board.

(c) Seven members shall be appointed by the lieutenant governor who are persons knowledgeable in the areas of cemeteries, preservation, restoration, architectural education, and Louisiana culture and the arts. One of the appointed members shall be a staff member of the division.

(2) The appointing authorities shall make such appointments in such manner as to ensure that the advisory board membership reflects as nearly as possible a cross section of the race, gender, and economic status of the state's population.

C. At the initial meeting of the advisory board, the term of office of each member appointed by the lieutenant governor shall be determined by lot. Of the initial members, four members shall serve for a term of three years, and three members shall serve for a term of two years. Thereafter, each member shall serve for a term of four years or until his successor is appointed and qualified.

D.(1) The advisory board shall meet and organize immediately after appointment of its members and shall elect a chairman and a treasurer from its membership and other officers the advisory board deems appropriate. The advisory board shall adopt rules for the orderly transaction of business and shall keep a record of all grant applications received, their disposition, and all grants awarded. A majority of the appointed members of the advisory board shall constitute a quorum. Members shall serve without compensation.

(2) The advisory board shall meet at least twice a year and at such other times as determined by the chairman.

E. Failure of appointed members to attend three consecutive meetings shall be cause for removal from the advisory board, and the position shall be deemed vacant by notifying the appropriate appointing party.

F. The advisory board shall be domiciled in East Baton Rouge Parish.

G. The advisory board shall:

(1) Determine the need for an inventory of historic cemeteries and isolated graves to be regulated by the department pursuant to this Chapter. The advisory board shall maintain any such inventory.

(2) Adopt such rules, regulations, standards, and grant application procedures necessary to implement the funding provisions of this Chapter, in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act.

(3) Establish priorities and criteria to be considered for grants.

H. Any cemetery association, cemetery corporation, or nonprofit organization that obtains a grant shall advise the director of the division of the progress of the project and verify and provide documentation of any and all expenditures of grant money as deemed necessary and appropriate by the director of the division. The director shall monitor, evaluate, and review the development and quality of projects funded through the fund and report findings to the advisory board.

I. The director of the division may call a meeting of the advisory board at any time if there is a need for consideration and awarding of an immediate grant.

Acts 2010, No. 707, §1, eff. June 29, 2010; Acts 2012, No. 834, §4, eff. July 1, 2012.