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Panel approves change to appointment process for St. George Fire Protection District board
Summary
Lawmakers amended and advanced a local bill to change how commissioners of the St. George Fire Protection District are appointed following the city's formation, including residency requirements and a 2-2 appointment split between the city and East Baton Rouge Metro Council.
Senate Bill 191, which alters the composition and appointment process for the Saint George Fire Protection District board following the formation of the City of St. George, was amended and advanced by the committee.
Senator Edmonds introduced the local bill, explaining the fire district existed before the city was incorporated and that the creation of the city of St. George required updating which governing body appoints commissioners. "Senate Bill 191 provides for the composition of the board of commissioners of the Saint George Fire Protection District," the sponsor said.
Under the measure as amended in committee, the district remains a five-member board with two appointments tied to the St. George City Council and two appointments by the East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council; the four appointed members then select the fifth commissioner. The amendment also added residency requirements: appointees must reside within the boundaries of the St. George Fire Protection District and, where specified, within the city boundaries.
Representative Marcel offered the amendment that shifted the appointment split to two-and-two and added the residency language. He told the committee he believed the proposal "is a fair balance" given that St. George lies within East Baton Rouge Parish and that residents in the district pay the fire taxes.
Committee members questioned whether the residency language would result in all five members living inside the city boundaries; the sponsor and amendment author explained the language requires residency within the fire district and that some East Baton Rouge appointees could live in the district but outside the city limits. The sponsor said the map shows the fire district covers about 90% of the city boundaries and most tax revenue is generated by district residents.
Representative Lyons moved the bill favorably as amended; there were no recorded objections and the committee advanced SB 191 to the next stage.
Ending note: the amendment and committee discussion focused on preserving the five-member structure while updating appointment and residency rules to reflect the new city governance structure.
