This bill amends and reenacts R.S. 33:1395(B) and enacts new subsections (C), (D), and (E) to provide clearer guidelines regarding the election of home rule charter commissions in Louisiana. It specifies that a charter commission must be elected when a petition is presented to the clerk of a municipality or parish, signed by at least ten percent of the electors or ten thousand electors, whichever is fewer. The governing authority is then required to call an election to elect a commission to prepare and propose a home rule charter. The bill also updates the legal reference to the "Constitution of Louisiana" instead of the "Louisiana Constitution of 1974."

Additionally, the bill outlines the requirements for the petition, including the necessary information for each signer and the timeline for submission to the parish registrar of voters. It establishes the registrar's responsibilities for certifying the petition and allows for challenges to the certification process. Once the petition is certified, the offices of home rule charter commissioner are deemed vacant, and the governing authority must call an election to fill these positions within thirty days. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
HB596 Original: 33:1395(B)
HB596 Engrossed: 33:1395(B)
HB596 Reengrossed: 33:1395(B)
HB596 Enrolled: 33:1395(B)
HB596 Act 713: 33:1395(B)