House Bill No. by Representative Braud proposes significant changes to the governance structure of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East (SLFP-E) and the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-West Bank (SLFP-W). The bill reduces the SLFP-E board membership from nine to seven members, decreasing the number of members with engineering or science-related backgrounds from five to four. It introduces new qualifications for the remaining members, requiring a certified public accountant, an attorney, and a member with a law enforcement background. Additionally, the bill mandates that one member be appointed from a list of nominees provided by Louisiana State University, another from Southern University, and introduces a new requirement for a member from Tulane University.

The bill also revises the appointment process for board members by eliminating the previous requirement for nominations from a nominating committee, allowing the governor to appoint members directly from the lists provided by the universities. It limits the authority of regional directors and clarifies the powers and composition of the nominating committees for both flood protection authorities. Furthermore, the legislation modifies the process for handling unexpected vacancies, requires publication of such vacancies within 30 days, and changes term limits for board members to allow three consecutive terms instead of two, while maintaining staggered four-year terms. Overall, these changes aim to streamline the appointment process and ensure that the boards are composed of individuals with diverse professional backgrounds relevant to flood protection and management.

Statutes affected:
HB633 Original: 38:1(C)(1)