HLSENROLLED 26RS-1244 REENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
847 BY REPRESENTATIVE BUTLER DISTRICTS/WATERAN CONSERVN:ACT To amend and reenact R.S.
Providesfortheelection,duties, and requirementsof district supervisors of the soil and water conservation commission AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S.
No nominating petition shall be accepted bythe board, unless it shall be the registrar of votersinvotersintheparishwherethesignersresidehascertified, theparishwherethesignersresidehascertified,pursuantto pursuanttoR.S.18:3,R.S.18:3,that that the petition has been subscribed by twenty-five or more qualified voters within the district.
Qualifiedvotersmaysignmorethanonesuchnominatingpetitiontonominatemore Pagethan 1one ofcandidate 4for CODING:supervisor.
Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.
HLS 26RS-1244 REENGROSSED HB NO.
847 than one candidate for supervisor.
The names ofPage all1 nominees on behalf of whom3 nominatingCODING: petitions have been filed within the time herein designated in this Subsection shall be printed, arranged in the alphabeticalorderofthesurnames,uponballots,withasquarebeforeeachnameand a direction to insert an X mark in the square before anythree names to indicate the voter's preference.
Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.
HB NO.
847 ENROLLED of all nominees on behalf of whom nominating petitions have been filed within the time herein designated in this Subsection shall be printed, arranged in the alphabeticalorderofthesurnames,uponballots,withasquarebeforeeachnameand a direction to insert an X mark in the square before any three names to indicate the voter's preference.
submitted to the secretaryofsecretary of state as candidates in an election to be held by the secretary of state as a private election.
Thethreeelectedsupervisorsofthedistrict shallshallbeelectedannually,one beelectedannually,one each year., These elections of supervisors shall be held throughout the state regularly on the second Saturday in June, each year, in accordance with the general procedure and in the manner prescribed in R.S.
All supervisors presently in office and serving on the governing body of a conservation district, shall remain in office until their terms expire, but from and after August 1st, 1956, all vacancies shall be filled in the manner above prescribed, Pageand 2whenever the term of 4anysupervisor CODING:expires, it shall be filled by an election to be held on the second Saturdayin June after the expiration of said term.
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HLS 26RS-1244 REENGROSSED HB NO.
847 andENROLLED wheneverG. the term of anysupervisor expires, it shall be filled by an election to be held on the second Saturdayin June after the expiration of said term.
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A supervisor shall not qualify for reappointment or reelection unless he shall have attended at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the scheduled district meetings, within a twelve month period, provided, however, upon a showing of good cause, this condition maybe waived byresolution duly adopted bybythe the state soil and water conservation commission.
DIGESTSPEAKER ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislativeOF Services.THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:
ItPage constitutes3 nopart of the3 legislativeCODING: instrument.
The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.
[R.S.
1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 847 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Butler Abstract:
Transfers election oversight of district supervisors to the secretary of state.
Modifies election requirements, supervisor terms, vacancy procedures, and attendance requirements for reappointment or reelection of district supervisors.
Presentlawauthorizesthefilingofnominationpetitionswithin30daysofformingasoiland water conservation district to elect three supervisors.
Requires that petitions be subscribed by 25 or more qualified voters.
Authorizes the commission to extend the filing period, provide notice of an election, supervise and fund the election, and publish the results.
Requires that ballots list nominees alphabetically with a square to mark up to three candidates.
Further provides that onlyqualified voters in the district mayvoteandthethree candidates receiving the highest number of votes are elected as district supervisors.
Proposed law modifies present law by prohibiting any nominating petition from being acceptedbytheboardunlesstheregistrarofvotersin theparishwherethesignersresidehas certified that the petition has been subscribed by 25 or more qualified voters.
Further changes the method of listing nominees from being printed on ballots for voter selection to being submitted to the secretaryof state, and removing provisions governing ballot format and voter eligibility for the election.
Requires that names of nominees be submitted to the secretaryof state as candidates in an election to be held bythe secretaryof state as a private election.
Removes provisions requiring the state commission to fund and supervise the election,prescribeelectionregulations, andpublish the election results and therequirement that the commission provide notice of the election.
Proposed law authorizes the secretary of state and the commissioner of agriculture and forestry to adopt rules and regulations to implement proposed law.
PresentlawrequiresthatthedistrictsupervisorsbeelectedeachyearonthesecondSaturday in June,with termsbeginningJuly1st followingtheelection.
Vacanciesandexpiringterms arefilledbyelectionsheldonthesecondSaturdayinJuneafterthetermexpires,andcurrent Page 3 of 4 CODING:
Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.
HLS 26RS-1244 REENGROSSED HB NO.
847 supervisors remain in officeuntil their terms expire.
Further requires that all vacanciesand expired terms be filled by an election held on the second Saturday in June after the term expires.
Proposed law modifies present law removing the requirement that the district supervisors be elected each year on the second Saturday in June.
Further removes the requirement that current supervisors remain in office until their terms expire and that vacancies and expired terms be filled by elections held on the second Saturdayin June.
Present law provides for the removal of a supervisor for neglect of duty or malfeasance.
Prohibits reappointment or reelection of a supervisor unless they have attended at least two-thirds of scheduled district meetings.
Authorizes the commission to waive this condition for good cause.
Proposed law retains present law and requires that the condition be met within a 12-month period.
(Amends R.S.
3:1206(A) and 1207(C) and (G);
Adds R.S.
3:1206(C)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development to the original bill:
1.
Prohibit any nominating petition from being accepted by the board unless the registrar of voters in the parish where the signers reside has certified that the petition has been subscribed by 25 or more qualified voters.
2.
Remove the clarification that the voters within the district are those qualified to vote under the constitution and law of this state.
3.
Require that the names of all nominees be submitted to the secretary of state as candidatesin an election to be held bythesecretaryofstateas a private election.
4.
Remove the requirement that elections be conducted bythe secretaryof state.
5.
Remove the requirement that the elections be held throughout the state on the second Saturday of June, each year.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1.
Make technical changes.
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