2014 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries
RS 48:1753 - Board of commissioners; appointment, term, and related matters

§1753. Board of commissioners; appointment, term, and related matters

A. The management and control of the commission shall be vested in a board of commissioners. The board of commissioners shall be comprised of two members from each of the parishes within the jurisdiction of the commission as provided in R.S. 48:1752(A). The board of commissioners shall be appointed as follows. The police jury from each parish shall select two persons. Either or both, but in any event at least one, shall attend each meeting of the commission absent exigent circumstances which prevent attendance. Each commissioner shall be a citizen of the United States and a qualified voter domiciled in the parish which said commissioner represents on the board. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, members may be state or local elected officials or employees of the state or any local government entity or agency. Furthermore, each police jury shall designate and appoint two alternates to the commission, who shall have the same qualifications as the commissioners, to serve on an as-needed basis in the event of the absence or inability of the commissioners.

B. In the event that a commissioner's position on the board of commissioners should become vacant for any reason, the police jury nominating said commissioner shall appoint another commissioner to serve in the position of the commissioner whose position was vacated, for the remainder of the unexpired term, in the same manner and with the same authority of the original appointment. Such new appointment shall be made within thirty days of receipt by such parish of written notification of the vacancy. Except for good cause shown, either of the alternates designated in Subsection A shall be appointed to fill said vacancy.

C. The board of commissioners as created herein, together with the alternate members, shall serve an initial term of two years. At the expiration of their respective terms, successors shall be appointed by each respective appointing authority for a term of four years. In the event that for any reason an appointing authority fails to appoint a successor member, after the expiration of his term, then the respective member whose term would have otherwise expired shall continue as a member of the commission until such time as his successor is appointed.

D. Any member of the board may be removed at any time by the authority which has appointed him.

E. The members of the board shall serve without compensation and shall have the power to fix the duties and powers and compensation of all officers, agents, and employees of the commission. The commission may reimburse any member for expenses actually incurred in the performance of his duties hereunder.

F.(1) The members shall elect from the membership a president, first vice president, second vice president, third vice president, secretary, and treasurer, whose duties shall be those usual to such offices. At the option of the board, the offices of the secretary and treasurer may be held by one person. No member shall be elected to serve for more than two successive terms in any office. The secretary and/or treasurer may be a person who is not a member of the commission.

(2) The commission shall meet in regular session once each calendar quarter and shall also meet in special session as often as the president of the board convenes them or on written request of four members. Seven members of the board present, or their designated alternates, shall constitute a quorum. The board shall prescribe rules to govern its meetings. In the absence or inability of the president, the first vice president, or in the absence or inability of the first vice president, the second vice president, or in the absence of the second vice president, the third vice president shall serve in the place of the president.

G. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, and recognizing the interstate nature of the work the commission is trying to accomplish, the commission is authorized to have commissioners or officers who may be duly appointed to serve by their respective county governing authorities from their respective states, in order to facilitate a cooperative effort between the states served by the highways. In addition, the commission is authorized to enter into compact agreements with other states that could extend the corridor from Brunswick, Georgia to El Paso, Texas.

H. The commission and its board shall be domiciled in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.

Acts 1992, No. 214, §1.