RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 520 (SB 364) 2024 Regular Session Harris
Existing law (R.S. 33:2740.3) provides for the creation of the Downtown Development
District of the city of New Orleans. The purpose of the district is to provide for the orderly
planning, development, acquisition, construction, and effectuation of the services,
improvements, and facilities within the district.
New law retains existing law.
Existing law provides that the council of the city of New Orleans, or its successor, shall have
power and control over, and responsibility for, the functions, affairs and administration of
the district. New law deletes this provision of existing law.
Existing law provides that the board shall be composed of 11 members.
New law retains existing law.
New law changes existing law so that the members of the board of commissioners are
appointed as follows:
(1) Two of the members shall be appointed by the mayor.
(2) One of the members shall be appointed by the New Orleans city council member
representing City Council District B.
(3) One of the members shall be appointed by New Orleans & Company.
(4) Two of the members shall be appointed by the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce.
(5) One of the members shall be appointed by the Greater New Orleans Hotel and
Lodging Association
(6) One of the members shall be appointed by the Louisiana Restaurant Association.
(7) One of the members shall be appointed by the member or members of the La. House
of Representatives who represent the district.
(8) Two of the members shall be appointed by the member or members of the La. Senate
who represent the district.
Existing law provides that the members of the board initially appointed by the mayor shall
be appointed as follows:
(1) Two members for one year each.
(2) Two members for two years each.
(3) Two members for three years each.
(4) Two members for four years each.
(5) One member for five years.
Existing law provides that the length of the term for each individual appointed to be
determined by lot. They shall serve until their successors have been appointed and qualified.
New law provides that upon the first meeting, the members of the board shall be randomly
allotted terms as follows:
(1) Three members for one year each.
(2) Three members for two years each.
(3) Three members for three years each.
(4) Two members for four years.
New law provides that each board member shall be required to annually provide an affidavit
attesting that he has a principal place of business or own property in the Downtown
Development District.
Existing law provides that the board shall prepare a plan or plans specifying the public
improvements, facilities and services proposed to be furnished, constructed or acquired for
the district, and it shall conduct public hearings to disseminate such information.
New law retains existing law and adds public safety services and reducing homelessness to
the list of specifications that shall be included in the prepared plan or plans.
New law provides that the board shall conduct an annual presentation to the New Orleans
city council regarding expenditures.
Existing law provides that the board shall also submit the plan to the planning commission
of the city of New Orleans. New law deletes this provision of existing law.
Existing law provides that after receipt of the plan together with the written comments and
recommendations of the city planning commission, the city council shall review and consider
the plan, together with such written comments and recommendations. New law deletes this
provision of existing law.
Existing law provides that the board may prepare and submit directly to the city council a
plan or plans setting forth its intention to employ professional consultants and experts and
such other advisors and personnel as it deems necessary. New law deletes this provision of
present law.
Existing law provides that all services to be furnished within the district pursuant to any plan,
shall be furnished, supplied, and administered by the city of New Orleans. All capital
improvements and facilities to be acquired, constructed, or provided within the district, shall
likewise be so acquired, constructed, or provided by the city of New Orleans.
New law retains existing law but makes the furnishing of any adopted plan by the Downtown
Development District to the city of New Orleans permissive as opposed to mandatory.
Existing law provides that, with the prior approval of the mayor and the city council, when
the service sought is not ordinarily provided by the city of New Orleans, the board may
contract with other entities in accordance with the approval of the mayor and the city council.
New law changes existing law to forego the need for prior approval of the city of New
Orleans and allows the board to contract with other entities.
New law provides that any additional security patrols, public or private, or any other security
or other services or betterments provided by the district shall be supplemental to existing
personnel and services to be provided in the district by the state or the city of New Orleans,
or their departments or agencies, or by other political subdivisions.
New law provides that the district may procure by informal bid, a public work with a value
of $150,000 or less.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 33:2740.3)


Statutes affected:
SB364 Original: 33:3(B), 33:3(J)
SB364 Engrossed: 33:3(B), 33:3(J)
SB364 Reengrossed:
SB364 Enrolled:
SB364 Act 520:
Senate Floor Bureau Note, #1778, Harris, Jimmy, Adopted: