This bill amends R.S. 33:1420.31 to establish new training requirements for local government officials, specifically mayors and members of governing authorities in municipalities with populations of 15,000 or less. It mandates that all mayors must participate in at least sixteen hours of training annually, which includes workshops and courses approved by the Louisiana Municipal Association. The training will cover various essential topics such as ethics, sexual harassment prevention, cybersecurity, and public budgeting, among others. Additionally, state agencies and associations are required to collaborate with the Louisiana Municipal Association to provide these training resources and may offer incentives for participation.

The bill also introduces a compliance verification process, requiring mayors to attest to their training completion, which will be included in the municipality's annual financial statements. A public list of compliant and non-compliant mayors will be maintained by the legislative auditor. Furthermore, the provisions of this bill will not apply to individuals temporarily filling a mayoral vacancy for less than one year. The new regulations are set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
HB431 Original:
HB431 Engrossed:
HB431 Reengrossed:
HB431 Enrolled:
HB431 Act 946: