A.  The Greater Ouachita Port Commission, the “commission”, is hereby created. The commission shall be composed of seven members, who shall serve without compensation. The members must be citizens of the United States and qualified electors of the parish of Ouachita and shall be appointed by the governor for overlapping terms of six years, as follows:

(1)  Two commissioners shall be appointed at large.

(2)  Two commissioners shall be residents of District 3 consisting of precincts 10 through 24, District 4 consisting of precincts 25 and 26, or District 10 consisting of precincts 59 through 72 and 74 through 79 and shall be appointed by the governor from a list of three nominees submitted by the state legislators representing these districts.

(3)  Two commissioners shall be residents of District 5 consisting of precincts 27 through 50, District 6 consisting of precincts 51 through 53, District 7 consisting of precincts 54 and 55, District 8 consisting of precincts 56 and 57, or District 9 consisting of precinct 58 and shall be appointed by the governor from a list of three nominees submitted by the state legislators representing these districts.

(4)  One commissioner shall be a resident of District 1 consisting of precincts 1 through 5 and precinct 73, or District 2 consisting of precincts 2 through 9A and shall be appointed by the governor from a list of three nominees submitted by the state legislators representing these districts.

B.  The commissioner initially appointed from District 1 consisting of precincts 1 through 5 and precinct 73, or District 2 consisting of precincts 2 through 9A and one of the commissioners initially appointed from District 5 consisting of precincts 27 through 50, District 6 consisting of precincts 51 through 53, District 7 consisting of precincts 54 and 55, District 8 consisting of precincts 56 and 57, or District 9 consisting of precinct 58 shall serve terms of two years; one of the commissioners initially appointed at large and one of the commissioners initially appointed from District 3 consisting of precincts 10 through 24, District 4 consisting of precincts 25 and 26, or District 10 consisting of precincts 59 through 72 and 74 through 79 shall serve terms of four years; and the other three commissioners initially appointed shall serve terms of six years, all as designated by the governor. The successors shall serve terms of six years. Each commissioner shall take and cause to be recorded the oath of office, as required by La. Const. Art. X, § 30 and La. Rev. Stat. 42:161 et seq.

C.  No commissioner shall hold office in a political party or during his term as commissioner hold any elective or appointive office or employment for compensation in the government of the United States or of the state of Louisiana or a political subdivision thereof.

D.  A vacancy on the commission for any reason shall be filled for the remainder of the term by appointment by the governor of a person meeting the same residence criteria, as provided by Subsection A of this Section.

Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 45, §1; Acts 2011, No. 55, §1, eff. June 20, 2011.