§5203. Powers of the district; commission

            A. The district, acting by and through the commission, shall regulate the commerce and traffic within the district in such a manner as may, in its judgment, be in the best interest of the state. Title to all property and improvements thereon operated by the commission shall be in the public and shall vest in the district.

            B. The district, acting by and through the commission, shall have and exercise all powers of a political subdivision necessary or convenient for the carrying out of its objects and purposes, including but not limited to the following, and is hereby vested with authority:

            (1) To sue and to be sued.

            (2) To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.

            (3) To employ such officers, agents, and employees as it deems necessary for the performance of its powers and duties, to prescribe the powers and duties and to fix the compensation of such officers, agents, and employees.

            (4) To contract, upon such terms as it may agree upon, for legal, financial, engineering, and other professional services necessary or expedient in the conduct of its affairs.

            (5) To enter into contracts for purchase, acquisition, construction, and improvement of public works and facilities necessary in connection with the purposes of the district.

            (6) To utilize the services of the executive departments of the state upon mutually agreeable terms and conditions.

            (7) To own, construct, acquire, operate, and maintain docks, wharves, landings, elevators, sheds, warehouses, basins, locks, slips, laterals, canals, and all other property, structures, equipment, facilities, and works of public improvement necessary or useful for port, harbor, or terminal purposes.

            (8) To maintain proper depths of water at all wharves and landings; to dredge and maintain shipways, channels, slips, basins, and turning basins.

            (9) To establish harbor lines, also known as structural limit lines, within the port area by agreement with the Corps of Engineers of the United States.

            (10) To construct, own, operate, and maintain terminal rail facilities and other common carrier rail facilities for the purpose of rendering rail transportation to and from the facilities and those to be erected, owned, and operated by the commission in both intrastate and interstate commerce.

            (11) To acquire property, including rights-of-ways, necessary for the benefit and advantage of regulating commerce and traffic within its jurisdiction, by gift, grant, purchase, or expropriation in accordance with the laws of the state, provided that it shall not have the right to expropriate minerals or mineral rights, and that its power to expropriate shall not apply or extend to any existing publicly or privately owned wharf, dock, warehouse, elevator, industrial plant site, industrial structure, or other facility constructed on or adjacent to any navigable waterway, natural or man-made, or to the replacement, improvement, and operation by the owners, lessees, or permittees thereof, or their successors and assigns. Additionally, the district shall not have the right to expropriate land under lease or option to lease on the effective date of this Chapter. Should the properties expropriated under the authority herein conferred cease to be used for the purposes for which they were expropriated, such properties shall revert to the former land owner or his heirs or assigns, provided such land owner or his heirs or assigns shall reimburse the district or commission, or its successor, in the full amount originally paid by the district or commission for such land; to hold and use any franchise or property, immovable, movable, or mixed, corporeal or incorporeal, or any interest therein, necessary or desirable for carrying out the objects and purposes of the district, including but not limited to the establishment, maintenance, and operation of industrial parks, ports, harbors, and terminals.

            (12) To acquire by purchase or lease industrial plant sites and necessary property or appurtenances therefor; to acquire or construct industrial plant buildings, with necessary machinery and equipment, within such district.

            (13) To receive by gift, grant, donation, or otherwise, any sum of money, aid, or assistance from the United States, the state of Louisiana, or any political subdivision thereof.

            (14) To provide such light, water, police protection, and other services for its facilities within the territorial limits and territorial jurisdiction of the district as it deems advisable.

            (15) To establish and charge reasonable fees, rates, tariffs, or other charges for the use of all facilities administered by it and for all services rendered by it.

            (16) To charge a reasonable fee to each vessel for the use of its facilities in the port area in ballast or carrying cargo of any kind, provided that it shall not charge any fee, rate, tariff, or other charge to any vessel in ballast or cargo on account of passage through the district unless such vessel or cargo makes use of its facilities or services and shall not by any rule, regulation, or other act require the use of its facilities or services.

            (17) To charge for each copy of any certificate issued by it or by any of its officers or employees for inspecting hatches, surveying cargo, or for making other surveys or inspections of vessels in the district, provided it shall furnish, without charge, to the master of each such vessel, one copy of all surveys upon his vessel or cargo.

            (18) To make and enter into contracts, leases, and other agreements with railroads, trucking companies, barge lines, and with any and all companies interested in the transportation, storage, and shipping of goods and other products, whether by rail, truck line, barge line, an oceangoing vessel, or otherwise, for the use of facilities administered by the commission or any part or portion thereof, for a period not exceeding forty years, provided that no exclusive franchise shall be granted to any carrier. The commission may lease or sublease for processing, manufacturing, or commercial business purposes any lands or buildings owned, acquired, or leased as lessee by it, which lease may run for any term not exceeding forty years, at a fixed rental, provided that any such lease may run for a term not exceeding ninety-nine years if it contains a clause or clauses for readjustment of the rentals upon the expiration of a primary term of forty years.

            (19) In its own name and on its own behalf, to incur debt and to issue revenue bonds, special assessment bonds, certificates, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness, and to levy and cause to be collected certain taxes as provided in this Chapter and as may be provided by general law.

            (20) To borrow money and pledge all or part of its revenues, leases, rents, or other advantages as security for such loans.

            (21) To do any and all things necessary or proper for the government, regulation, development, and control of the business of the district, provided that the district shall comply with the constitution, laws, and policies of the state of Louisiana, including but not limited to the Public Records Law and the Open Meetings Law, in carrying out its functions and duties.

            C. Notwithstanding any provision of this Chapter, the authority, power, and jurisdiction of the Cameron Parish Port, Harbor, and Terminal District is subject to the provisions of R.S. 34:218.

            D. The provisions of this Chapter shall not be construed to authorize the commission to operate as a public utility or to grant a franchise for service by a public utility that is regulated by the Louisiana Public Service Commission.

            Acts 2016, No. 331, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2017.