§1403. Designation of officers; domicile; quorum; seal
A.(1) The governor shall designate a chairman from the membership of the Board of Tax Appeals.
(2) The member other than the chairman with the longest service on the board shall be its vice chairman, and shall perform duties as may be specified in the rules of the board and delegated by the chairman.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the member appointed pursuant to R.S. 47:1402(D) shall be the hearing judge of the Local Tax Division of the board. For the purposes of the Local Tax Division, the judge shall exercise all jurisdiction, authority, and powers of the board and its chairman, including the hearing of cases to be adjudicated in the division and the rendering of orders and judgments in such cases.
(4) The local tax judge provided for in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection is recognized as having been created as a distinct position in the unclassified service for the purposes of Article X of the Constitution of Louisiana and shall serve as agency head for the Local Tax Division.
(5) In the event of a vacancy lasting more than thirty days or if the local tax judge submits a written request for assistance, the supreme court is authorized to make assignments or appointments for a local tax judge ad hoc in the same manner as authorized pursuant to Article V, Section 5(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana. Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, any sitting or retired ad hoc judge so assigned shall receive the compensation specified in this Chapter for ad hoc appointment pursuant to this Paragraph.
B.(1) The principal office and domicile of the board shall be at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(2) The board may hold meetings at any place within the state, and any member, when designated by the chairman, may act as a hearing judge and conduct hearings for the purpose of receiving testimony, argument, or both and reporting his findings of fact, law, or both to the board for decision or judgment.
(3) The time and place of meetings and hearings shall be designated by the chairman, with a view of securing reasonable opportunity to taxpayers to appear before the board with as little inconvenience and expense to parties and witnesses as is practicable.
(4) The board may allow for a hearing to be held by telephone, video conference, or similar communication equipment, including the administration of oaths in proceedings.
(5) Upon the motion of the local collector, a hearing on the merits in a matter involving only local taxing authorities from a single parish shall be held in that parish. The respective district or other local court shall make available any facilities necessary for the hearing, and any relevant expenses may be taxed as costs, including any costs for a hearing judge in the same amount as specified in R.S. 47:1417(C)(2).
(6)(a)(i) Upon the joint motion of all parties in any matter, or for any case filed by or against a local collector, a case filed with the board shall be heard in the board's Local Tax Division.
(ii) A case designated to be heard in the Local Tax Division shall be adjudicated as provided for in Paragraph (A)(3) of this Section.
(iii) A case designated to be heard in the Local Tax Division may thereafter instead be heard and adjudicated by the entire board only upon the joint motion of all parties. However, any board member may exercise the powers granted in R.S. 47:1408, and the chairman may issue other non-dispositive orders concerning cases in the division upon the joint motion of all parties or, in the absence of and at the direction of the hearing judge.
(b) Repealed by Acts 2019, No. 367, §2, eff. June 18, 2019.
(c) For any case assigned to be heard in the Local Tax Division, all references to the "Board of Tax Appeals" in this Chapter, in Chapter 2-D of this Subtitle, or in Subtitle III of this Title shall mean the board's Local Tax Division, with the board's authority exercised by its local tax judge pursuant to Paragraph (A)(3) of this Section.
(7) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the chairman may designate either of the following as a hearing judge for purposes of Paragraph (2) of this Subsection:
(a) Any person who has been appointed as an ad hoc judge pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter.
(b) With the approval of the supreme court, any judge eligible for assignment pursuant to Article V, Section 5 of the Constitution of Louisiana who is considered an ad hoc judge pursuant to this Chapter.
C. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of the board, except as otherwise provided in this Chapter. A vacancy in the board shall not impair the powers nor affect the duties of the board, nor of the remaining members of the board. In the event of a vacancy or in the absence of a board member, the chairman, or vice chairman during the absence of the chairman, may order a case involving a state collector to be heard in accordance with Paragraph (B)(2) of this Section, and the hearing judge shall render the judgment of the board. Except as otherwise provided for in this Chapter, and specifically excluding any case assigned to the Local Tax Division, the entire board may participate in the disposition of any case heard by the Board of Tax Appeals.
D. The board shall have a seal which shall be judicially noticed. Such seal may be used to authenticate the official acts of the board or any member thereof, but failure to use the seal shall not invalidate any such act.
Amended by Acts 1977, No. 282, §1, eff. July 7, 1977. Acts 1984, No. 380, §1, eff. July 6, 1984; Acts 2014, No. 640, §2, eff. June 12, 2014; Acts 2015, No. 210, §1, eff. June 23, 2015; Acts 2016, No. 335, §1, eff. June 5, 2016; Acts 2018, No. 143, §1, eff. May 11, 2018; Acts 2019, No. 367, §§1, 2, eff. June 18, 2019; Acts 2020, No. 278, §1, eff. July 1, 2020; Acts 2021, No. 343, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2022; Acts 2024, No. 307, §1, eff. May 28, 2024.
NOTE: See Acts 2015, No. 210, §4, re: retroactivity of certain provisions.