PART IV. AUDUBON PARK

§1761. Audubon Park Commission; creation; membership

A. The Audubon Park Commission is hereby created as a political subdivision of the state of Louisiana pursuant to Article VI, Section 19 of the Constitution. The commission shall exercise the powers and duties hereinafter set forth or otherwise provided by law.

B. The commission shall be composed of twenty-four members who shall be appointed by the governor. Each appointment by the governor shall be submitted to the Senate for confirmation. The commission shall be composed as follows:

(1) Seven members, who shall be residents of the city of New Orleans, appointed from a list of fifteen names eight of which shall be names submitted to the governor by the mayor of the city of New Orleans and seven of which shall be names submitted to the governor by the council of the city of New Orleans. Provided that one member shall be a resident of either the Eighth or Ninth Ward of Orleans Parish.

(2) Six members, who shall be residents of the city of New Orleans, appointed from a list comprised of two names submitted to the governor by each legislator who represents any portion of the city of New Orleans.

(3) Five members, who shall be residents of Jefferson Parish, appointed from a list comprised of two names submitted to the governor by each legislator who represents any portion of Jefferson Parish.

(4) Two members, who shall be residents of St. Bernard Parish, appointed from a list comprised of two names submitted to the governor by each legislator who represents any portion of St. Bernard Parish.

(5) One member, who shall be a resident of Plaquemines Parish, appointed from a list comprised of two names submitted to the governor by each legislator who represents any portion of Plaquemines Parish.

(6) Two members, who shall be residents of St. Charles Parish or St. John the Baptist Parish, appointed from a list comprised of two names submitted to the governor by each legislator who represents any portion of St. Charles Parish or St. John the Baptist Parish.

(7) One member, who shall be a resident of St. Tammany Parish, appointed from a list comprised of two names submitted to the governor by each legislator who represents any portion of St. Tammany Parish.

(8) Of the total number of members appointed from the city of New Orleans and Jefferson Parish, at least two shall be residents of the west bank of the Mississippi River. Provided further, one of these members shall be a resident of the west bank of Orleans Parish and one member shall be a resident of the west bank of Jefferson Parish.

(9) All initial nominations shall be made within twenty-one days of the date of signature by the governor, or if not signed by the governor, within twenty-one days of the expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature by the governor, as provided in Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. All subsequent nominations shall be made no earlier than twenty-eight days prior to the expiration of the term of office nor later than fourteen days prior to the expiration of the term of office. If nominations are not made within the time specified, the governor shall make his appointments without the necessity of nominations.

C.(1) Appointed members shall serve four-year terms. Vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of the term by the Audubon Park Commission. Any person appointed by the commission to fill a vacancy shall be a resident of the same parish as the member he is appointed to replace.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the terms of the initial members of the commission appointed pursuant to R.S. 56:1761(B) shall expire on December 31 of the year designated below:

(a) The terms of the initial members appointed pursuant to R.S. 56:1761(B)(4), (5), (6), and (7) shall expire in 1984.

(b) The terms of the initial members appointed pursuant to R.S. 56:1761(B)(3) shall expire in 1985.

(c) The terms of the initial members appointed pursuant to R.S. 56:1761(B)(1) shall expire in 1986.

(d) The terms of the initial members appointed pursuant to R.S. 56:1761(B)(2) shall expire in 1987.

(3) The terms of the successors of the initial members shall expire on December 31 of the last year of their respective terms. Members shall serve until their successors are appointed and take office.

D. The commission shall meet and organize immediately after appointment of the members and shall elect from its membership a chairman and a vice chairman and such other officers as it may deem necessary. The commission shall prescribe the duties of its officers. The commission shall adopt rules for the transaction of its business and shall keep a record of its proceedings. Thirteen members shall constitute a quorum.

E. The commission shall meet at least once in each quarter of the fiscal year, or on call of the chairman or any five members.

F. Members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

G. The commission shall be domiciled in New Orleans.

Acts 1983, No. 485, §1, eff. July 27, 1983; Acts 2003, No. 774, §15.