As used in this Chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as follows:

(1)  “Batture” shall have the same meaning as that term was defined by the courts of this state as of the effective date of the Constitution of Louisiana.

(2)  “Board of commissioners” means a group of persons appointed under the provisions of law to exercise certain authorities over and have oversight and control of a levee district or levee and drainage district.

(3)  “Fair market value” means the value of the lands or improvements actually taken, used, damaged, or destroyed for levees or levee drainage purposes as determined in accordance with the uniform criteria for determining fair market value as defined in La. Rev. Stat. 47:2321 et seq. Pursuant to Article 1, Section 4(G) and La. Const. Art. VI, § 42(A) , such determination of fair market value shall not exceed the compensation required by the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America unless an exception as provided in La. Const. Art. I, § 4(G) is applicable.

(4)  “Full extent of the loss” shall not be construed to include payment for uses which are remote, speculative, or contrary to law; uses for which the property is still suitable; or elements of property ownership which are not actually taken, used, damaged, or destroyed for levees or drainage purposes.  Further, pursuant to Article I, Section 4(G) and La. Const. Art. VI, § 42(A) , payment for the full extent of the loss shall not exceed fair market value and shall not exceed the compensation required by the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America unless an exception as provided in La. Const. Art. I, § 4(G) is applicable.

(5)  “Levee commissioner” means a member of a board of commissioners of a levee board or a levee and drainage board.

(6)  “Levee district” means a political subdivision of this state organized for the purpose and charged with the duty of constructing and maintaining levees, and all other things incidental thereto within its territorial limits.

(7)  “Levee and drainage district” means a political subdivision of this state organized for the purpose and charged with the duty of constructing and maintaining levees, drainage, and all other things incidental thereto within its territorial limits.

(8)  “Meeting” means a duly called meeting of the membership of a board when payment of per diem is authorized and such meeting is called for the express purpose of discussing activities or plans pertinent to the functions of the levee board itself.

(9)  “Orleans Levee District” shall mean the levee district and political subdivision of the state which is referred to as the “Orleans Levee District”, the “Board of Commissioners of the Orleans Levee District”, or the “Orleans Levee Board”.

(10)  “Temporary servitude” means the taking of lands for a limited time period where the lands are returned to the owner without substantial damage or destruction but shall not include barrow areas.

Acts 1985, No. 785, §1, eff. July 22, 1985; Acts 2006, No. 567, §1, eff. Oct. 30, 2006; Acts 2007, No. 133, §1, eff. June 25, 2007.