A.  For the object and purpose of providing economy and efficiency in the furnishing of water, sewer, and sewage treatment or disposal within any area of any parish, outside the corporate limits of municipalities, parish governing authorities may, upon their own initiative, create water and sewer commissions (herein the “commission”) and grant unto the commission the rights, powers, and authority herein described, including, but not limited to, the power of taxation, the power to incur debt and issue bonds and the power to assume the indebtedness (in the same manner provided by Subpart C, Part III, Chapter 4, Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, for the assumption of district debt by parish governing authorities) of any underlying water or sewer district then existing.  Such commissions shall be created by any parish governing authority upon request by governing authority of two or more existing parochial water or sewer districts, as evidenced by resolution adopted by the governing authority of each such district.

B.  Upon the creation of the commission and the fixing of its boundaries and jurisdiction, the commission shall be a political subdivision of the state of Louisiana, as defined in La. Const. Art. VI, § 44 , with authority to plan, finance, construct, acquire, improve, operate, and maintain water, sewer, and sewage treatment or disposal improvements and facilities within its designated boundaries.

Acts 1988, No. 259, §1, eff. July 7, 1988.