§1417. Recusal; board members

A. In accordance with the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, a board member may voluntarily recuse himself and withdraw from any proceeding in which he cannot accord a fair and impartial hearing or consideration.

B.(1) Any party may also request the recusal of a board member by filing a motion for recusal promptly upon learning of the basis for the disqualification, stating with particularity the grounds upon which it is claimed that a fair and impartial hearing cannot be accorded.

(2) The issue shall be determined promptly by the remaining board members in accordance with the rules of the Code of Civil Procedure concerning the recusal of district judges.

C.(1) Upon the entry of an order of recusal concerning a board member or members, the remaining board members may hear and decide the case, or the chairman may assign the case to be heard in accordance with R.S. 47:1403(B)(2), and the board member acting as hearing judge shall render the judgment of the board.

(2) If all board members are recused, the chairman shall promptly notify the chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, who shall appoint a retired judge to adjudicate the case as a hearing judge ad hoc for the board and to render the judgment of the board in the matter. For purposes of this Subsection, any person who has held office as a judge pursuant to Article V, Section 22 of the Constitution of Louisiana may be appointed. The retired judge shall be compensated pursuant to R.S. 11:1384 as for a district court from funds available to the board, and these expenses may be assessed as costs.

(3) Upon entry of an order of recusal concerning the board member presiding over a case in the Local Tax Division, the case shall be reassigned to be heard in accordance with Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, or, upon a joint motion of all parties it may either be heard pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection or be transferred to the district court of proper venue.

D. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, including Chapter 15 of Title 42 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, if any member of the board is recused from a case pursuant to this Section, he may continue to serve as a member of the board while the remainder of the board adjudicates a taxpayer's appeal or claim, but the board member shall have no participation or involvement in any case in which he is recused.

Acts 2014, No. 640, §2, eff. June 12, 2014.