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Committee defers bill to adjust Sewage and Water Board governance after New Orleans delegation raises timing concerns
Summary
HB 611, which would let the Sewage and Water Board elect its own president and choose its legal counsel and that would repeal several statutory sections, was deferred after city officials and members of the New Orleans delegation asked for more local engagement before statewide statutory changes.
Representatives from the governor's office and from New Orleans told the Senate Committee on Local and Municipal Affairs on Wednesday that HB 611 contains cleanup language to reflect last year’s reforms to the Sewage and Water Board, but that the timing and some statutory repeals need more local discussion. The committee deferred the bill.
Representative Hilferty framed HB 611 as a cleanup measure following large reforms last session, saying the bill would allow the board to elect its own president rather than naming the mayor as de facto president and give the board authority to choose its own counsel. "We think the board should have the ability to elect their own president, from the membership," Hilferty said.
Steven Swiber of the governor’s office, staff to the governor’s Sewage and Water Board task force, described the board as a state entity governed by many statutes and said last year’s reforms addressed several immediate problems. "Unlike a lot of other local flood control entities, sewage and water board is a state agency," Swiber said, and he noted the task force’s report and recommendations. He told the committee the bill seeks to reconcile statutory inconsistencies left after last year’s legislation.
Members of the New Orleans delegation and the city’s director of intergovernmental relations, Arthur Walton, expressed concern about the bill’s timing and some of the sections proposed for repeal. Walton said the city was "reluctant to support this bill at this time" and urged more engagement with the incoming mayor and council, since the city will elect new officials in October. He specifically cited concern about the repeal of RS 33 40 87, a provision that appears to protect employment opportunities for city residents in public works contracts.
Senator Bowie also flagged language in RS 33 41 46 that could be read to relieve the city of New Orleans of obligations to appropriate funds for drainage maintenance; he said that statutory language should not remain in place. After discussion, Bowie moved to defer HB 611. "We will defer the bill," Bowie said, and the committee recorded no objection.
The transcript shows the measure was discussed at length, with testimony from a governor’s office staffer, the author, and a city official. The bill would repeal and amend several provisions in Title 33; the committee deferred it to allow additional consultation with city leaders and the new council members expected after the October election.
