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HLS 26RS-277 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 713
BY REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK
PORTS/HARBORS/TERMINALS: Establishes that the total compensation of the executive
port director of the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission cannot exceed the
statewide average compensation of the top ten port directors in Louisiana
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 34:3160(B) and to enact R.S. 34:3160.1, relative to the total
3 compensation of certain employees of the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission;
4 to establish parameters on the total compensation of the executive port director; to
5 provide for definitions; to establish the methodology for the calculation and annual
6 publication of the statewide average compensation of port directors; to require
7 annual reporting of compensation data; to require steps immediately be taken to
8 calculate the mean total compensation of certain executive port directors; to provide
9 for prospective application to avoid impairment of existing contracts; to provide for
10 an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
11 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
12 Section 1. R.S. 34:3160(B) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 34:3160.1 is
13 hereby enacted to read as follows:
14 §3160. Rights and powers of commission
15 * * *
16 B. The commission may authorize a reasonable travel allowance for its
17 members in the performance of their official duties. It may employ such officers,
18 agents, and employees as it finds necessary in the performance of its duties and may
19 prescribe the duties, powers, and compensation of such officers, agents and
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HLS 26RS-277 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 713
1 employees. The commission shall determine the salary and establish the terms of
2 employment for the executive port director. No contract, amendment, or renewal
3 executed on or after January 1, 2028, shall authorize a total compensation that
4 exceeds the average total compensation established pursuant to R.S. 34:3160.1. The
5 commission, on such terms as it agrees upon, may contract for legal, financial,
6 engineering, and other professional services necessary or expedient in the conduct
7 of its affairs, and, on terms and conditions mutually agreeable, may utilize the
8 services of the executive departments of the state.
9 * * *
10 §3160.1. Executive port director; average total compensation
11 A. As used in this Section, "total compensation" means the aggregate value
12 of all forms of remuneration provided to the executive port director by the
13 commission, including base salary, allowances, benefits, bonuses, incentives,
14 deferred compensation, and any other monetary or nonmonetary compensation.
15 B.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the total
16 compensation of the executive port director of the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port
17 Commission shall not exceed the statewide average total compensation paid to
18 executive port directors of the top ten port authorities and port commissions in
19 Louisiana.
20 (2) The statewide average total compensation shall be calculated annually
21 by the legislative auditor and the division of administration, using the most recent
22 and reliable compensation data available. The calculation shall include the mean of
23 the total compensation figures for the executive port directors of the top ten port
24 authorities and port commissions. Vacancies or incomplete data shall be treated in
25 a manner that ensures accurate representation of statewide compensation levels.
26 (3) Each port authority and port commission in the state shall submit annual
27 compensation data for its executive port director to the legislative auditor and the
28 division of administration who shall be responsible for calculating the statewide
29 average pursuant to Subsection C of this Section. The data shall be submitted no
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HLS 26RS-277 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 713
1 later than ninety days following the end of the commission's fiscal year and shall be
2 provided in a standardized format prescribed by the legislative auditor and the
3 division of administration.
4 D.(1) Upon the effective date of this Act, the legislative auditor and the
5 division of administration shall immediately begin the necessary steps to calculate
6 the mean total compensation of executive port directors of the top ten port authorities
7 and port commissioners statewide as provided in Paragraph (B)(2) of this Section.
8 The initial determination of the mean total compensation shall be determined no later
9 than January 1, 2027 to ensure adequate time for the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port
10 Commission to comply with Paragraph (2) of this Subsection.
11 (2) Beginning January 1, 2028, the average total compensation established
12 in this Section shall apply to the compensation package of the executive port director
13 of the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission. No contract, amendment, or
14 renewal executed on or after that date shall authorize a total compensation package
15 in excess of the average total compensation established in this Section.
16 E. This Section shall not be construed to create any enforcement mechanism
17 or penalty. It is the intent of the legislature that the commission adhere to the
18 average total compensation established in this Section in the ordinary course of its
19 professional and administrative practices.
20 Section 2. The provisions contained in this Act shall apply prospectively only and
21 shall not be construed to impair the obligations of any existing lawful contract that is in
22 effect as of the effective date of this Act. Any current employment contract shall remain
23 enforceable in accordance with its terms until it expires, is amended, or is renewed.
24 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
25 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
26 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
27 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
28 effective on the day following such approval.
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HLS 26RS-277 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 713
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 713 Original 2026 Regular Session McCormick
Abstract: Sets the total compensation of the executive port director of the Caddo-Bossier
Parishes Port Commission to the statewide average compensation of the top ten port
directors in Louisiana and provides for definitions, annual calculations, reporting
requirements, and applicability.
Present law (R.S. 34:3160) provides for the powers of the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port
Commission, including authority to appoint and compensate an executive port director.
Proposed law modifies present law by prohibiting any contract, amendment, or renewal
executed on or after Jan. 1, 2028, from authorizing total compensation that exceeds the
statewide average established pursuant to proposed law.
Proposed law (R.S. 34:3160.1) establishes the average total compensation of the executive
port director of the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission.
Proposed law defines "total compensation" as including all forms of remuneration, including
salary, allowances, benefits, bonuses, deferred compensation, and any other monetary or
nonmonetary compensation.
Proposed law prohibits the total compensation of the executive port director from exceeding
the statewide average total compensation paid to executive port directors of the top 10 port
authorities and port commissions in La.
Proposed law requires the statewide average of total compensation of port directors in the
state to be calculated annually by the legislative auditor and division of administration using
the most recent and reliable compensation data available. Requires vacancies and
incomplete data to be treated in a manner that ensures accurate representation.
Proposed law requires that each port authority and port commission submit annual
compensation data for its executive port director no later than 90 days after the end of its
fiscal year, in a standardized format prescribed by the legislative auditor and the division of
administration.
Proposed law requires the legislative auditor and division of administration, upon the
effective date of proposed law, to calculate the mean total compensation of the top 10 port
directors and commissioners statewide by Jan. 1, 2027.
Proposed law provides that beginning Jan. 1, 2028, the average total compensation
requirement applies to any contract, amendment, or renewal executed on or after that date.
Proposed law specifies that no enforcement mechanism or penalty is created by proposed
law.
Specifies that the provisions contained in proposed law apply prospectively only and do not
affect the validity of existing lawful contracts. Requires contracts remain enforceable until
expiration, amendment, or renewal.
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HLS 26RS-277 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 713
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 34:3160(B); Adds R.S. 34:3160.1)
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