§ 33:3812 — Waterworks commissioners; qualifications

§3812. Waterworks commissioners; qualifications
A. All waterworks districts created under the provisions of this Chapter shall be
governed by a board of five members, to be known as waterworks commissioners, except
that where the district includes one or more municipalities, as hereafter provided, the board
shall consist of either eight or nine members, depending upon whether the district includes
one or more than one municipality.
B. The members of the board shall be known as waterworks commissioners. Each
shall be a resident of and assessed with not less than five hundred dollars worth of real estate
in the district. A commissioner may be the representative of a corporation domiciled in the
district and owning lands in the district of an assessed value of not less than five thousand
dollars. The representative of a corporation may be one of its officers and may be designated
to represent the corporation by resolution of the board of directors to that effect. He shall
also be a resident of the waterworks district.
C. Provided, however, that in Lafourche Parish, the Lafourche Water District shall
be governed by a board consisting of a number of members, not to exceed eleven members
or fall below seven members, required to effectively govern the district as determined by the
Lafourche Parish Police Jury. The members of the board shall be known as waterwork
commissioners. Each shall be a registered voter, resident of and assessed with not less than
five hundred dollars worth of real estate in an apportioned population area of which he
represents. Such apportioned population area shall be determined by the Lafourche Parish
Police Jury as provided in R.S. 33:3813(C). A commissioner may be the representative of
a corporation domiciled and owning lands in an apportioned population area of an assessed
value of not less than five thousand dollars. The representative of a corporation may be one
of its officers and may be designated to represent the corporation by resolution of the board
of directors to that effect. He shall also be a registered voter and a resident of the
apportioned population area of which he represents.
D. The membership of the St. Mary Parish Waterworks District No. 5 is increased
from five to seven. The two additional members shall be appointed by the governing
authority of St. Mary Parish to serve at its pleasure. Except to the extent of any conflict with
this Subsection, the provisions of this Chapter shall apply to the two additional members and
their successors.
E. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, the membership
of the board of commissioners of each waterworks district in West Baton Rouge Parish shall
be comprised of five members. The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to the
board of commissioners for West Baton Rouge Parish Water Works District No. 1.
F. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, the membership
of the board of commissioners of Iberville Parish Waterworks District No. 3 is hereby
increased from five to seven. The two additional members shall be appointed by the
governing authority of Iberville Parish and shall serve at its pleasure. Except to the extent
that they conflict with this Subsection, the provisions of this Chapter shall apply to the two
additional members and their successors.
G. The membership of the board of commissioners of Southeast Waterworks District
No. 2 of Vermilion Parish is increased from five to six. The additional member shall be
appointed by the governing authority of Vermilion Parish to serve at its pleasure. Except to
the extent of any conflict with this Subsection, the provisions of this Chapter shall apply to
the additional member and his successors.
H. The membership of the boards of commissioners of any waterworks districts
created by the consolidation of two or more existing waterworks districts within Calcasieu
Parish may be increased from five to seven members. Each additional member shall be
appointed by the governing authority of Calcasieu Parish and shall serve at the pleasure of
such governing authority. Except to the extent of any conflict with this Subsection, the
provisions of this Chapter shall apply to the additional members and their successors.
I.(1) The governing authority of Beauregard Parish may subdivide Waterworks
District No. 3 into not fewer than five and not more than nine commissioner districts. These
districts shall be created by parish ordinance and shall not be political subdivisions of the
state. One commissioner for the waterworks district shall be appointed from each
commissioner district.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, if the governing
authority of the parish subdivides Waterworks District No. 3 into commissioner districts or
modifies the number of commissioner districts within Waterworks District No. 3, the
governing authority of the parish may increase or decrease the number of commissioners to
equal the total number of commissioner districts.
(3) Upon the effective date of any ordinance creating commissioner districts or
modifying the number of districts in Waterworks District No. 3, the term of all serving
commissioners on the board shall terminate and the governing authority shall appoint new
commissioners. Commissioners shall be eligible for reappointment. An ordinance creating
commissioner districts or modifying the number of commissioner districts shall provide for
the staggering of commissioners' terms.
(4) No funds of Waterworks District No. 3 may be expended in a commissioner
district without the approval of the board.
J. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, the membership
of the governing board of Waterworks District No. 1 of Pointe Coupee Parish shall be as
provided by R.S. 33:3813(C)(8).
K. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, the membership
of the board of commissioners of the South Cameron Consolidated Waterworks District No.
1 of Cameron Parish shall be comprised of six members appointed by the governing authority
of Cameron Parish.

Legislative History

Amended by Acts 1964, Ex.Sess., No. 26, §1; Acts 1974, No. 440, §1; Acts 1975, No. 108, §1; Acts 1979, No. 101, §1; Acts 1986, No. 40, §1, eff. June 13, 1986; Acts 1992, No. 593, §1; Acts 1993, No. 206, §1; Acts 1995, No. 11, §1; Acts 2005, No. 316, §1; Acts 2009, No. 350, §1; Acts 2010, No. 90, §1; Acts 2023, No. 275, §1, eff. June 9, 2023; Acts 2024, No. 182, §1.