LA

Louisiana

RS 48:1671

CHAPTER 16. SOUTHERN RAPID RAIL TRANSIT COMPACT

§1671. Southern Rapid Rail Transit Compact

A. The purpose of this compact is to study the feasibility of rapid transit service between the
states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama and to establish a joint interstate commission to
assist in this effort.

B. This compact shall become effective immediately as to the states ratifying it whenever the
states of Louisiana and Mississippi have ratified it and Congress has given consent thereto. Any
state not mentioned in this article which is contiguous to any member state may become a party
to this compact, subject to approval by the legislature of each of the member states.

C.(1) The states that are parties to this compact (hereinafter referred to as "party states") do
hereby establish and create a joint agency, which shall be known as the Southern Rapid Rail
Transit Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "commission"). The membership of the
commission shall consist of the governor of each party state, one representative each from the
Mississippi Energy and Transportation Board, or its successor, the office of aviation and public
transportation of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, or its successor,
and the conservation division of the Alabama Department of Energy, or its successor; and five
other citizens of each party state, to be appointed by the governor thereof. The appointive
members of the commission shall serve for terms of four years each. Vacancies on the
commission shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the unexpired portion of the term.

(2) The members of the commission shall not be compensated for service on the commission,
but each of the appointed members shall be entitled to actual and reasonable expenses incurred
in attending meetings or incurred otherwise in the performance of his duties as a member of the
commission.

(3) The members of the commission shall hold regular quarterly meetings and such special
meetings as its business may require. They shall choose annually a chairman and vice chairman
from among their members, and the chairmanship shall rotate each year among the party states
in order of their acceptance of this compact.

(4) The commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the transaction of its business, and a
record shall be kept of all its business.

(5) It shall be the duty of the commission to study the feasibility of providing interstate rapid rail
transit service between the party states. Toward this end, the commission shall have power:

(a) To hold hearings.

(b) To conduct studies and surveys of all problems, benefits, and other matters associated with
such service, and to make reports thereon.

(c) To acquire, by gift, grant, or otherwise, from local, state, federal, or private sources such
money or property as may be provided for the proper performance of their function, and to hold
and dispose of same.

(d) To cooperate with other public or private groups, whether local, state, regional, or national,
having an interest in such service.

(e) To formulate and execute plans and policies for emphasizing the purpose of this compact
before the Congress of the United States and other appropriate officers and agencies of the
United States.

(f) To exercise such other powers as may be appropriate to enable it to accomplish its functions
and duties and to carry out the purposes of this compact.

D. Each party state agrees that its legislature may, in its discretion, from time to time make
available and pay over to the authority funds for the establishment and operation of the authority.
The contribution of each party state shall be in equal amounts, if possible, but nothing in this
article shall be construed as binding the legislature of either state to make an appropriation or a
set amount of funds at any particular time.

E. Nothing in this compact shall be construed so as to conflict with any existing statute, or to limit
the powers of any party state, or to repeal or prevent legislation, or to affect any existing or future
cooperative arrangement or relationship between any federal agency and a party state.

F. This compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each party state until the
legislature or governor of each or either state takes action to withdraw therefrom. However, any
such withdrawal shall not become effective until six months after the date of the action taken by
the legislature or governor. Notice of such action shall be given to the other party state or states
by the secretary of state of the party state which takes such action.

Added by Acts 1980, No. 327, §1, eff. July 1, 1980. Acts 1981, No. 153, §1; Acts 1983, 1st Ex.
Sess., No. 4, §1, eff. Jan. 19, 1983; Acts 1992, No. 185, §1.

RS 48:1672

§1672. Grant of power to Louisiana governor, Louisiana members of commission and compact
administrator

There is hereby granted to the governor, to the members of the commission for Louisiana, and to
the compact administrator all the powers provided for in the compact and in this Section. All
officers of the state of Louisiana are hereby authorized and directed to do all things falling within
their respective jurisdictions which are necessary or incidental to carrying out the purpose of the
compact.

Added by Acts 1980, No. 327, §1, eff. July 1, 1980.