§1256. Creation of the Louisiana Tourism Development Commission; domicile; composition; membership; confirmation; terms; vacancy

A. The Louisiana Tourism Development Commission is hereby created, as an agency of the state in the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. The commission shall be a body politic and corporate entity. The commission shall be domiciled in Baton Rouge.

B. The commission shall be composed of twenty-one members.

(1) Ex officio members shall be as follows:

(a) The lieutenant governor or his designee.

(b) The secretary of state or his designee.

(2) The following organizations shall each submit a list of four names to the lieutenant governor, from which the lieutenant governor shall appoint one individual from each organization for membership on the commission:

(a) The Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals.

(b) The Louisiana Campground Owners Association.

(c) The Louisiana Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus.

(d) The Louisiana Preservation Alliance, Inc.

(e) The Louisiana Association of Museums.

(f) The Louisiana Bed and Breakfast Association.

(g) The Louisiana Travel Promotion Association.

(h) The Louisiana Attractions Association.

(i) The Louisiana Business League.

(3) The following organizations shall each submit a list of eight names to the lieutenant governor, from which the lieutenant governor shall appoint two individuals from each organization for membership on the commission:

(a) Louisiana Restaurant Association.

(b) Louisiana Hotel-Motel Association.

(4) Six at-large members shall be appointed directly by the lieutenant governor.

C. All appointed members shall be knowledgeable, interested, and active in tourism promotional activities, in enhancing the state's image, and in diversifying the state's economy by encouraging and assisting employment opportunities in the travel and hospitality industries.

D. Repealed by Acts 1984, No. 751, §1, eff. July 13, 1984.

E. The lieutenant governor shall appoint at least one member from each of the state's congressional districts from among those nominated by the nominator groups. The lieutenant governor shall appoint the members no later than sixty days from the date he takes office.

F. Each appointment by the lieutenant governor shall be submitted to the Senate for confirmation.

G. Each appointed member shall serve at the pleasure of the lieutenant governor and shall continue to serve until his successor is appointed.

H. An ex officio member may be represented by his first assistant as his designee at any meeting. A designee shall have full voting privileges. In the event that an ex officio member is unable to attend a meeting, he shall notify the commission in writing at least three calendar days prior to the meeting of his intent to send his designee.

I. The ex officio members shall have the right to participate in and vote on all matters of the commission.

J. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services as members of the commission, but shall be entitled to their actual expenses for necessary travel and for other expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the commission payable out of the funds of the commission.

K. Any vacancy shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment within sixty days, except that the nominating group shall submit a list of three names for the person to be selected if the vacancy occurs from among the membership named by a group. The qualifications of each member of the commission shall continue to apply throughout his tenure on the commission, and, in the event a member after appointment should fail to meet the qualifications or classification that he possessed at the time of his appointment, the member shall resign or be removed and shall be replaced with a member possessing the proper qualifications and classification.

Acts 1983, No. 688, §4; Acts 1984, No. 751, §2, eff. July 13, 1984; Acts 1990, No. 396, §1, eff. July 18, 1990; Acts 1991, No. 188, §1, eff. Jan. 13, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 367, §§1 and 2; Acts 1997, No. 762, §1; Acts 2008, No. 804, §2.