House Bill No. 55 seeks to create the Cross Gates Subdivision Crime Prevention and Neighborhood Improvement District in East Baton Rouge Parish, aimed at enhancing community safety and improvement through increased security measures. The district will be governed by a five-member board of commissioners, all of whom must be property owners and qualified voters within the district. The board will have the authority to adopt rules, manage funds, and ensure transparency through regular meeting minutes and audits. The district's boundaries will encompass specific streets within the subdivision, and it is designed to complement existing law enforcement services rather than replace them.

The bill allows the board to impose a parcel fee on properties within the district, which will require voter approval. This fee can be as high as $400 per parcel annually, with an initial cap of $150 for the first year, and will be collected similarly to ad valorem taxes. Unpaid fees will be added to the parish tax rolls. Additionally, the bill stipulates that if the district dissolves, all associated funds and property will be transferred to East Baton Rouge Parish for the purpose of enhancing security and improving conditions in the area. The proposed law also includes technical amendments that refine the language without changing the bill's intent, and it will take effect upon the governor's signature or after the designated time for gubernatorial action has elapsed.