§653.  Duties, powers, and functions

A.  The council shall serve as the official state agency in all relations and exchanges between the state of Louisiana and other countries, provinces, and states enjoying membership or observer status in the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and similar organizations.

B.  A majority of the council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of official business.  All official actions of the council shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting.

C.  The council shall elect a chairman, who shall be fluent in the French language, and may elect such other officers as deemed necessary to effectively conduct the council's business.  Officers shall serve two-year terms.

D.  The council shall:

(1)  Meet at least once a year, or at the call of the chairman, and at such other times deemed necessary by the chairman or the executive committee.

(2)(a)  Create an executive committee consisting of seven members of the council, including the chairman of the council and six other council members as the council may determine.  All members of the executive committee shall be fluent in the French language.

(b)  A majority of the members of the executive committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  However, when the council has delegated to the committee full power to act with respect to a matter, affirmative action by a majority of the entire committee membership shall be required.

(3)(a)  Appoint an executive director, who shall be fluent in French, and who shall perform such duties and possess such qualifications as established by the council.

(b)  The executive director shall be in the unclassified service of the state and his compensation shall be determined by the council.

(4)  Adopt bylaws and establish policies to govern the operations of the council and the executive committee.

E.  The council may:

(1)  Cooperate with and advise other state agencies, including public institutions of education.

(2)  Establish such committees as it deems necessary to efficiently conduct the council's business.

Acts 1968, No. 409, §3.  Amended by Acts 1968, Ex.Sess., No. 22, §1; Acts 2010, No. 679, §1.

NOTE:  See Acts 2010, No. 679, §5, regarding creation of an advisory committee.