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A.  Creation.  There is hereby created the Flyway Byway District in Jefferson Davis Parish, referred to in this Section as the “district”, which shall be a body politic and corporate and a political subdivision of the state of Louisiana.

B.  Boundaries.   The boundaries of the district shall be as follows:  beginning at the southern edge of the point where United States Interstate 10 intersects with the Calcasieu-Jefferson Davis Parish line, proceed southward down the parish line, past the Cameron Parish line, proceeding down the 93^rd meridian line to a point that connects with the southwestern edge of the Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge projected due west to the 93^rd meridian, turning east at this point proceed eastward along the southern edge of the projected line from the southwestern edge of the Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge and continue along the southern boundary of the wildlife refuge, proceed northeast along the western edge of the Mermentau River and Lake Arthur to a point where the southern end of La. Highway 26 is projected due south to intersect with this southern boundary line, proceed northward along the eastern edge of the southern projection of Highway 26 to Highway 26 itself and continue along the eastern edge of the highway up to the point where it intersects with United States Interstate 10, proceed westward along the southern edge of United States Interstate 10 back to the point where it intersects with the Calcasieu-Jefferson Davis Parish line.

C.  Purpose.  The purpose of the Flyway Byway District is to stimulate economic development and tourism within the district.

D.  Governance.  (1) The Flyway Byway District shall be governed by a  board of commissioners, referred to in this Section as the “board”.  The board shall be composed as follows:

(a)  Two members appointed by the governing authority of Jefferson Davis Parish.

(b)  Two members appointed by the Jefferson Davis Parish Tourist Commission.

(c)  One member appointed by the governing authority of the town of Welsh.

(d)  One member appointed by the Jefferson Davis Parish Economic Development Commission.

(e)  One member appointed by the Jefferson Davis and Cameron Parish legislative delegation.

(f)  The secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development, or his designee, and the secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, or his designee, neither of whom shall be voting members nor count towards the presence of a quorum for the conduct of business.

(2)  The members of the board of commissioners shall serve four-year terms.  Members shall serve until their successors have been appointed and qualified.

(3)  A vacancy on the board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(4)  Members shall be eligible for reappointment.

E.  Organization.  (1)  All members of the board shall serve without compensation but may receive reimbursement for expenses directly related to the governance of the district.

(2)  The domicile of the board shall be in the town of Jennings in Jefferson Davis Parish.

(3)  The board is authorized to adopt bylaws for its governance and conduct and shall elect from its own membership a chairman and a vice chairman.

(4)  The board shall hold regular meetings as provided for in its bylaws and may hold special meetings at such times and places within the district as provided in the bylaws.

(5)  The board shall keep minutes of all meetings.

(6)  A majority of the voting members of the board shall constitute a quorum for conducting business.

F.  Powers and duties of the district.  The district, through the board of commissioners, shall have all the rights, powers, privileges, and immunities granted to political subdivisions, including but not limited to the following:

(1)  To sue and be sued.

(2)  To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.

(3)  To receive contributions, donations, grants, and appropriations of money or other things of value from any public or private source.

(4)  To enter into cooperative endeavors by written agreement with the state or with any other public or private entity.

(5)  To employ such persons and to enter into such contracts for services as it deems advisable.

(6)  To develop and implement a plan for the preservation, beautification, and promotion of scenic routes and the natural, historic, and cultural sites and attractions of such routes with the assistance of the Department of Transportation and Development, the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

(7)  To acquire servitudes adjacent to scenic routes for the preservation of the natural beauty of the area, but such authority shall not include the acquisition of rights-of-way for the construction of any scenic highway.

(8)  To adopt rules and regulations providing for the utilization and administration of the servitudes herein authorized to be acquired.

G.  Cooperation with state entities.  State departments and agencies, particularly the Department of Transportation and Development, the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, are authorized to provide such advice and services to the board of commissioners as will help achieve the purpose of this Section.

Acts 2010, No. 482, §1; Acts 2011, No. 276, §1.