A.  The executive director of the Sabine River Authority may employ one or more persons as river authority law enforcement officers, within the law enforcement division, who shall be charged with the responsibility of maintaining order and exercising general police power within the territorial boundaries of the Authority, including any property and waters under the jurisdiction or management of the board of commissioners.  The jurisdiction of such officers shall be restricted to properties and waters in those parishes within the jurisdiction of the Authority where the Authority does not have an interagency law enforcement agreement with the parish sheriff.  Each person employed by the executive director of the Authority as a law enforcement officer shall be  commissioned as a peace officer by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.  Such commission shall remain in force and effect at the pleasure of the executive director and the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, subject to applicable civil service rules and regulations.  Persons employed as law enforcement officers for the Authority shall have the right to exercise the power of arrest as peace officers, according to law, within the area of their jurisdiction as provided in this Section.

B.  Each law enforcement officer shall execute a bond in an amount set by the board of commissioners in favor of the state of Louisiana for the faithful performance of his duties.  The premium on such bond shall be paid by the Authority.

C.  Any person applying for a law enforcement position with the Sabine River Authority shall have completed an accredited Louisiana Peace Officers Standards Training Academy and basic firearms training program and possess a current P.O.S.T. certification as provided for in La. Rev. Stat. 40:2405.  However, the executive director may employ any person in an entry level position in the law enforcement division while such person is attending a certified law enforcement training course and basic firearms training program prior to his being commissioned as a peace officer.  The Authority shall pay all costs and expenses associated with attending any law enforcement training course and basic firearms training programs.

D.  The board of commissioners may seek, accept, and expend state and federal funds for the purposes of establishing and maintaining a law enforcement division for the security of the property and water within the jurisdiction or management of the Authority.  In order to achieve this goal, the Authority may purchase fleet vehicles to accommodate the staffing and equipment needs of the law enforcement division.  Additionally, the board of commissioners shall provide all persons employed as law enforcement officers with all required duty gear including defensive and offensive weapons, personal protection equipment, and body armor.  However, the board shall be subject to La. Rev. Stat. 38:2211 et seq. when purchasing equipment and supplies.

E.  The provisions of this Section do not entitle any such law enforcement officer to state supplemental pay.

F.  The provisions of this Section shall be implemented provided funding is available.

Acts 2005, No. 429, §1.