This bill amends various sections of the Louisiana Revised Statutes related to the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, primarily focusing on governance and operational efficiency. It allows the composition of the board to be defined by the New Orleans home rule charter, unless otherwise specified by law, and grants the New Orleans city council the authority to establish rules for the appointment and terms of board members. The board is also empowered to adopt rules for adjusting or extinguishing customer indebtedness in cases of billing errors or financial hardship. Furthermore, the bill clarifies the board's responsibilities regarding drainage operations and mandates the city to allocate funding based on previous fiscal year expenditures.

In addition to these changes, the bill modifies the election process for board officers by removing the mayor's ex officio presidency, allowing the board to elect its own president and executive director. It ensures compliance with the Open Meetings Law for board meetings, enhancing transparency. The city council's regulatory oversight is expanded to include approval of rates, fees, annual operating budgets, and policies related to billing and governance. The bill also streamlines the establishment of billing policies by eliminating the requirement for a billing ordinance working group, allowing the city council to implement uniform procedures directly. Overall, the bill aims to improve the governance structure and operational practices of the Sewerage and Water Board while maintaining the integrity of legislative powers.

Statutes affected:
HB1243 Original: 33:4072(A), 33:2(A)
HB1243 Engrossed: 33:4072(A), 33:2(A)
HB1243 Enrolled: 33:4072(A), 33:2(A)