This section defines key terms used in the chapter and requires the department to set additional qualifications for economic development zones by rule.
§1783. Definitions For purposes of this Chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings hereinafter ascribed to them, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) "Block group" means a geographic area defined by the United States Bureau of the Census and identified as part of a census tract. (2) "Board" means the State Board of Commerce and Industry, or its successor. (3) "Department" means Louisiana Economic Development. (4) "Economic development zone" means a geographic area with specific identifiable boundaries which is being developed for commercial or industrial purposes, is owned or operated by a political subdivision or other entity created pursuant to state law, and is designated to receive the benefits of this Chapter. This term may include an industrial park, business park, air park, research park, research and development park, downtown development district, former federal facility, port, or airport. The department shall establish further qualifications for economic development zones by rule adopted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act. (5) "Enterprise zone" means a block group which is economically distressed and in need of expansion of business and industry and the creation of jobs, as defined by the criteria in R.S. 51:1784(A), and designated to be eligible for the benefits of this Chapter. (6) "Governing authority" means the governing body of a parish, municipality, or other political subdivision, and the office of sheriff in the case of a law enforcement district, within which a qualified block group lies. (7) "Multifamily residential housing" means a minimum of ninety and a maximum of three hundred attached dwelling units providing complete independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation. (8) "Multimodal transit center" means a public transit stop or exchange that includes not less than three modes of public transportation including bus, streetcar, rail, ferry, or water taxi. (9) "Political subdivision" means a parish, municipality, or any other unit of local government including but not limited to a law enforcement or other special district authorized by law to perform governmental functions. (10) "Rural enterprise zone" means an enterprise zone located in a parish having a population not in excess of seventy-five thousand persons. (11) "Transit-oriented development" means a mixed-use development, consisting of at least fifty percent multifamily residential housing and at least twenty thousand square feet of commercial or retail facilities, on a single contiguous site, all or part of which is located within one-quarter mile of a multimodal transit center, with at least ten million dollars in capital expenditures for new construction or conversion of existing structures. (12) "Urban enterprise zone" means an enterprise zone located in a parish having a population in excess of seventy-five thousand persons. Added by Acts 1981, No. 901, §1. Acts 1992, No. 1024, §1, eff. July 1, 1993; H.C.R. No. 71, 1993 R.S.; Acts 1995, No. 581, §2, eff. June 18, 1995; Acts 2006, No. 844, §1, eff. July 5, 2006; Acts 2011, No. 359, §1, eff. June 29, 2011; Acts 2012, No. 45, §1; Acts 2013, No. 141, §1.