RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
SB 203 2021 Regular Session White
Would provide, notwithstanding any contrary provision of law including the Code of
Governmental Ethics, a member of the board of commissioners of a groundwater district
nominated by an industrial user within the district, appointed by the governor and confirmed
by the Senate, who, at the time of nomination is employed by, rendering compensated
services to, or participating in a transaction with the member's respective nominating entity,
may continue to be employed by, render compensated services to, or participate in
transactions with the member's respective nominating entity.
Proposed law would be considered remedial and interpretive and applied retroactively and
prospectively.
Would have become effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for
gubernatorial action.
(Proposed to add R.S. 42:1123(47))
VETO MESSAGE: "Please be advised that I have vetoed Senate Bill 203 of the 2021
Regular Session.
This bill is intended to provide for an exception in the Code of Governmental Ethics
for certain appointees on the Capitol Area Groundwater Commission. The bill would both
retroactively clear several former members of the Commission from current ethics charges
and would allow for a blanket exception to the ethics code going forward for members
appointed pursuant to La. R.S. 38:3074(A)(2) and (3). While I understand the dilemma for
the members with ethics charges who may have inadvertently violated the code of ethics, I
do not agree that there should be a prospective exception. The industrial users of the aquifer
can provide nominations of individuals that will not run afoul of the ethics code, and my
most recent appointees to the Commission do not have this issue. Should the legislature
come back in the next session with an exception that is narrowly drafted to cure a previous
inadvertent violation, I will support it. I cannot support a broad exception for all members
in the future."