Senate Bill No. 283, introduced by Senator Barrow, establishes the BLVD at Harding Area Special District in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and amends existing law to include this new district in the definitions of "issuer" and "local governmental subdivision." This inclusion grants the district the same legal status as other special districts. The governance structure will consist of a board of commissioners made up of representatives from the city government, state legislature, and property owners, aimed at facilitating cooperative economic development and managing infrastructure costs. The bill also outlines the district's boundaries and grants it powers such as levying taxes, issuing bonds, and engaging in tax increment financing to support economic development projects.

The legislation specifies that the board members will serve without salary but can be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, and they are required to elect a president and secretary from among themselves while holding public meetings. Any tax increase must be approved by a majority of qualified electors in a special election, unless there are no qualified electors in the district. The district is mandated to dissolve one year after all debts are settled, with a minimum existence of three years. The bill emphasizes a broad interpretation to fulfill its intended purposes and includes amendments that clarify the district's boundaries and add an additional member to the board of commissioners.

Statutes affected:
SB283 Original: 33:31(2)
SB283 Engrossed: 33:31(2)
SB283 Reengrossed: 33:31(2)