RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 736 (HB 848) 2024 Regular Session Jackson
Existing law authorizes parish and municipal governing authorities to create, by ordinance,
public libraries. Requires parish and municipal governing authorities to create public
libraries when petitioned by not less than 25% of the duly qualified property taxpayers of the
respective parish or municipality. Further requires parish governing authorities to appoint
not less than five nor more than seven citizens of the parish as a board of control and
municipal governing authorities to appoint five citizens as a board of control.
Existing law authorizes the governing authority to submit a proposition to the property
taxpayers to vote a special tax for the maintenance and support of the library and its
branches. Requires the governing authority to submit such a proposition to the voters when
requested by a petition of not less than 25% of the duly qualified property taxpayers.
New law additionally authorizes parish governing authorities to exercise budgetary and fiscal
control over any library created by the respective governing authority. Provides that
budgetary and fiscal control includes the authority to approve, disapprove, or amend a budget
adopted by the respective library board of control and also includes powers specifically
granted by existing law (R.S. 33:1415(B)). Requires parish governing authorities to comply
with the provisions of the Local Government Budget Act (R.S. 39:1301 et. seq).
Effective July 1, 2024.
(Adds R.S. 25:220.1)


Statutes affected:
HB848 Original: 25:215(A)
HB848 Engrossed: 25:215(A)
HB848 Reengrossed: 25:215(A)