A.  The governing authority of any municipality with a population of not less than seven thousand persons as of the most recent federal decennial census or any parish or fire protection district which maintains a full-time, regularly paid fire department may, subject to Subsection B of this Section, enter into a contract with a private entity for the provision of fire protection services.

B.(1)  No such governing authority shall enter into such a contract until such action has been approved by a majority of the voters of the municipality, parish, or fire protection district, as the case may be, voting at an election held for such purpose in accordance with the provisions of the Louisiana Election Code.  Any such governing authority may cause a proposition to authorize such contract to be placed on the ballot for such purpose.

(2)  A question submitted to the voters pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this  Subsection shall appear on the ballot in the following form: “Shall (insert the name of the political subdivision) contract with a private company for the provision of fire protection services?”

Acts 1999, No. 1161, §1, eff. July 9, 1999.

NOTE: See Acts 1999, No. 1161, §2 relative to existing contracts and contracts with volunteer fire departments.