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HLS 26RS-507 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 444
BY REPRESENTATIVE MARCELLE
DISTRICTS/RECREATION: Provides relative to the Recreation and Park Commission for
the Parish of East Baton Rouge
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 33:4570.1, relative to the Recreation and Park Commission for
3 the Parish of East Baton Rouge; to provide relative to the membership of the
4 commission; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
5 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
6 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
7 Louisiana.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 33:4570.1 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
10 §4570.1. Board of commissioners; officers; quorum; employees
11 A. The commission shall be composed of five seven ex officio members and
12 four appointed members for a total of nine eleven commissioners. The ex officio
13 members shall be the member of the Louisiana Senate who represents District
14 No. 15, the member of the Louisiana House of Representatives who represents
15 District No. 61, and the mayors of the following municipalities: Baker, Baton
16 Rouge, Central, St. George, and Zachary. Each mayor ex officio member may
17 designate a person to serve in his place as a member of the commission. Each
18 designee shall serve at the pleasure of the designating mayor member. The ex officio
19 members shall serve during their terms of office. The four appointed members shall
20 be qualified voters of the parish appointed by the governing authority of the city of
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HLS 26RS-507 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 444
1 Baton Rouge, parish of East Baton Rouge for terms of three years. Of the four
2 appointed members, at least two shall be residents of the city of Baton Rouge, and
3 at least one shall be a resident of the unincorporated area of East Baton Rouge
4 Parish. Following the release of each federal decennial census, the commission may,
5 by majority vote, reallocate these designated residency requirements to reflect the
6 changes in population distribution across the parish. Any such reallocation shall
7 apply prospectively and shall not alter the term of any sitting member. Vacancies
8 shall be filled by the designating or appointing authority. All commission members
9 shall serve without compensation.
10 B. The commission shall elect from its members a chairman, a vice
11 chairman, and a treasurer whose terms of office shall be one year. Five Six members
12 shall constitute a quorum of the commission for all purposes. The commission shall
13 have the power and authority to name and employ a person who shall be designated
14 as superintendent of the commission, who shall not be a member of the commission,
15 and who shall be ex officio secretary of the commission, and to prescribe and pay an
16 annual salary to the superintendent.
17 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
18 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
19 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
20 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
21 effective on the day following such approval.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 444 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Marcelle
Abstract: Changes the membership of the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish
of East Baton Rouge.
Present law creates the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge
as a subdivision of the state to plan, own, and operate public recreational and park facilities
in the parish.
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HLS 26RS-507 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 444
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides for a nine-member commission comprised of five ex officio members
and four members appointed by the governing authority of city of Baton Rouge, parish of
East Baton Rouge for three-year terms. Provides that the five ex officio members are the
mayors of the following municipalities: Baker, Baton Rouge, Central, St. George, and
Zachary. Authorizes each mayor to designate a person to serve in his place as a member of
the commission. Requires that at least two of the appointed members be residents of the city
of Baton Rouge, and at least one be a resident of an unincorporated area of East Baton
Rouge Parish.
Proposed law adds two ex officio members to provide for an 11-member commission.
Provides that the two additional members are the member of the La. Senate who represents
District No. 15 and the member of the La. House of Representatives who represents District
No. 61. Authorizes each member to designate a person to serve in his place as a member of
the commission.
Present law provides that five members constitute a quorum. Proposed law instead provides
that six members constitute a quorum.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 33:4570.1)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Municipal, Parochial
and Cultural Affairs to the original bill:
1. Removes the La. Senate member from District No. 14 and replaces him with the
La. Senate member from District No. 15.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.