§9103. Board of commissioners; membership; qualifications and terms; powers; parish governing authority as district governing authority

            A.(1)(a) When any district is created wholly within a single parish, the parish governing authority creating it may appoint a board of commissioners composed of seven members to govern its affairs and shall fix the domicile of the board at any point within the parish. The members of the board shall be qualified electors of the district, two of whom shall be appointed for terms of two years, three for terms of three years, and two for terms of four years, dating from the date of the adoption of the ordinance creating the district. Thereafter, all appointments of the members shall be for terms of four years.

            (b) When a communications district is composed of any part or all of two or more parishes, the board of commissioners shall be appointed by the parish governing authorities, with four members to be appointed by each governing authority. Of the initial members appointed by each parish governing authority, one shall be appointed for a term of two years, one shall be appointed for a term of three years, and two shall be appointed for a term of four years, dating from the date of the adoption of the ordinance creating the district. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for terms of four years. The members of the board of commissioners shall be qualified electors of the district. The commission may fix its domicile at any point within one of the parishes.

            (2) However, the governing authority of the parish of Natchitoches and of the parish of Rapides may appoint two additional members to the board of commissioners of the district created by it, each to serve a term of four years.

            (3) However, the governing authority of the parish of Evangeline may appoint two additional members to the board of commissioners for the Evangeline Parish Communications District. The board of commissioners shall serve without compensation.

            (4) However, the governing authority of the parish of Ouachita may appoint two additional members to the board of commissioners of the Ouachita Parish Communications District. The board of commissioners shall serve without compensation.

            (5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Lincoln Parish Communications District shall be governed by a board of commissioners composed of nine members. The two members added to the board by this Paragraph shall be appointed by the governing authority of Lincoln Parish and shall serve initial terms of four years each, and their successors shall serve four-year terms.

            (6) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any member of the board of commissioners on the East Baton Rouge Parish Communications District board may appoint a designee in the event that the member cannot attend a meeting.

            B. The commission shall have complete and sole authority to appoint a chairman and any other officers it may deem necessary from among the membership of the commission.

            C. A majority of the commission membership shall constitute a quorum and all official action of the commission shall require a quorum.

            D.(1) The commission shall have authority to employ such employees, experts, and consultants as it may deem necessary to assist the commission in the discharge of its responsibilities to the extent that funds are made available.

            (2) Any district employee who is an emergency public safety telecommunicator who provides communications support services for an agency by responding to requests for assistance in emergencies may be considered a first responder.

            E. In lieu of appointing a commission, as provided in this Section, the parish governing authority may serve as the governing authority of a district located wholly within the parish, in which case it shall assume all the powers and duties of the board of commissioners as provided in this Chapter.

            F. The members of the board of commissioners of Tangipahoa Communications District Number 1 shall each receive a per diem of fifty dollars for attending meetings of the board, for a maximum of one regular meeting per month and six special meetings per year. Per diem paid pursuant to this Subsection shall be paid out of the funds of the district.

            Added by Acts 1983, No. 550, §1. Acts 1991, No. 123, §1; Acts 1993, No. 212, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1001, §1; Acts 1997, No. 460, §1, eff. June 22, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 1029, §1, eff. July 9, 1999; Acts 2003, No. 391, §1, eff. June 18, 2003; Acts 2019, No. 389, §1; Acts 2022, No. 213, §1; Acts 2023, No. 189, §1, eff. June 8, 2023.