The Louisiana Senate will consider a new bill which could impose term limits on members of the LSU System’s Board of Supervisors. Sen. Willie Mount, D-Lake Charles, filed Senate bills 232 and 233, which will be reviewed by the Senate and Government Affairs Committee when the Legislature meets for its regular session March 31. The bill is a constitutional amendment which will establish a “three-consecutive-term limit for positions on certain constitutionally-provided boards and commissions.” Members of the LSU Board of Supervisors currently serve six-year terms without a maximum limit. The Board of Supervisors is not the only entity that could be affected by the bill. The bill will also set term limits for the members of the the Public Service Commission, State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Board of Regents, University of Louisiana System’s Board of Supervisors, Southern University’s Board of Supervisors, Community and Technical College’s Board of Supervisors, Louisiana Forestry Commission, State Civil Service Commission and the State Police Commission. If the Legislature and Gov. Bobby Jindal approve the bill, Louisiana residents will have to vote on it before the state’s constitution can be amended. If passed, the bill will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot. Jerry Shea Jr., chairman of LSU’s Board of Supervisors, said term limits are appropriate and he does not think the Board’s efficiency will be affected. Charles Weems III, three-term Board member representing the 5th Congressional District, said he does not have a problem with the concept of term limits and will support the bill. He said term limits on elected officials do not serve the same function as they would on appointed positions. Elected officials are concerned with policy issues while appointments deal with issues more closely related to institutional performance and management, Weems said. “There are advantages and disadvantages to term limits,” Weems said. He said term limits will allow new people to serve and bring “fresh” ideas, but it will take time for new people to get to know what they are doing. Jack Andonie, who is serving his fourth term as a member of the Board representing the 1st Congressional District, said there are always “two sides to every story.” Andonie said this bill will bring in new people with new ideas, but the Board will lose people with experience, expertise and continuity. “They may not be as effective as someone who has experience,” Weems said. He said there are few people on the Board the bill will affect, so it will not have a consequential effect on its efficiency. If the bill is approved by Louisiana voters, the term limit could affect three current Board members: Andonie, Weems and Laura Leach, representative of the 7th Congressional District. The LSU System was unable to comment on the proposed bill because it is forbidden by law to take positions on any piece of legislation. After repeated attempts, The Daily Reveille was unable to contact Mount for comment.
—-Contact J.J. Alcantara at [email protected]