CHAPTER 13-C. ACADIANA CRIMINALISTICS LABORATORY

DISTRICT AND COMMISSION

§2267. Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory District; creation; composition; powers; ad valorem tax

            A. The Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory District, hereinafter referred to in this Section as the "district", is hereby created. The district shall be a political subdivision. The boundaries of the district shall be coterminous with the boundaries of the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion.

            B. The district is established for the operation of the Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory for the purpose of crime detection, prevention, investigation, and other related activities in connection with criminal investigation.

            C. The district shall be governed by the Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory Commission, as created by this Chapter, hereinafter referred to in this Section as the "commission".

            D. The commission, through its membership, shall have the power to impose and levy an ad valorem tax on the assessed value of all property appearing on the tax rolls of the parishes when approved by a majority of the electors of the parishes voting thereon in an election held for that purpose.

            E.(1) The election provided for in Subsection D of this Section shall be called by the commission.

            (2) Any costs of the election shall be financed by the commission to be paid with funds generated from the tax imposed; in each parish within the district, the sheriff through his general fund, the district attorney through any funds available to him including those funds provided pursuant to the Criminal Court Fund provided for in R.S. 15:571.11, and the president of the governing authority of the parish through his general fund may defray all or part of the costs of the election.

            (3) The commission may choose to call the election at the same time as other parishwide elections in order to avoid the costs of a special election.

            (4) The commission shall have the authority to reduce the millage for any year in which it determines that the millage in effect for that year will produce more revenues than the commission determines is needed for that year.

            F. In addition to the taxes authorized by Subsection D of this Section, the commission may levy and collect any other taxes authorized by the constitution of this state for political subdivisions, including tax upon the sale at retail, the use, lease, or rental, the consumption, and the storage for use or consumption of tangible personal property, and on sales of services as defined by law. This tax shall be levied and collected only after the question of its imposition has been submitted to and approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the district voting at a regularly scheduled election to be conducted in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code. The election shall be called by the commission and shall be held only with another parishwide election. Expenses of this election shall be financed in the same manner as provided for in Subsection E of this Section.

            G. The commission shall have authority to manage all taxes collected pursuant hereto and to expend funds produced therefrom for capital expenditures and for the operation of the Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory.

            H. The commission shall have the power to borrow monies for the maintenance and operation of the Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory.

            I. Nothing contained in this Section shall be interpreted as diminishing any of the authority of the affected sheriffs, district attorneys, or presidents of the governing authority as delegated to them by the constitution and laws of this state.

            Acts 2004, No. 422, §1.