House adopts conference report changing composition of St. George Fire Protection District board

The Louisiana House adopted the conference committee report for Senate Bill 191, which provides changes related to the composition of the St. George Fire Protection District board of commissioners.

Representative Freyberg (floor identification shown as the member handling the bill) told the chamber the conference committee report was signed by all six conferees and described the agreement as a compromise satisfactory to stakeholders. He said the report keeps an amendment specifying that the two representatives who will represent East Baton Rouge Parish on the commission be appointed by two members from the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council, and he identified the council members who typically represent that area.

Representative Marcel asked for clarification on how the appointment process works and whether the council appointment is made by those two members alone or requires broader council action; Freyberg said he could not answer whether the council appointment requires a council majority or a standalone appointment by those two members. Another representative reiterated that the amendment specifies which council members may make the appointment.

Representative Freyberg moved for adoption of the conference committee report; the clerk closed the machine and the vote was recorded as 98 yeas and 0 nays and the report was adopted, according to floor announcements.

The conference report was described on the floor as preserving the amendment’s substance while narrowing which council members may make the appointments; the transcript did not state whether the council appointment procedure requires a full council vote or another internal process, and Freyberg declined to answer that procedural detail during floor questions.