The department may or must designate certain areas as enterprise zones or economic development zones only when the stated notice, request, and approval conditions are met.
§1785. Designation A. The department shall designate qualified block groups as enterprise zones only after receiving notice from the appropriate governing authority that the governing authority agrees to: (1) Participate in the enterprise zone program. (2) Assist the department in evaluating progress made in any enterprise zone within its jurisdiction. B. The department may designate block groups which do not qualify under R.S. 51:1784 as enterprise zones only if the requirements of Subsection A of this Section and all of the following conditions are met: (1) Request for such designation is made by an appropriate governing authority. (2) The number of enterprise zones within a particular parish is not increased. (3) Such designation is approved by the Board of Commerce and Industry. C. The department shall designate a qualified area as an economic development zone only after receiving notice from the appropriate governing authority that the governing authority agrees to: (1) Participate in the economic development zone program. (2) Assist the department in evaluating progress made in any economic development zone within its jurisdiction. D. Any geographic area eligible for designation as an economic development zone but which had been alternatively designated as an enterprise zone pursuant to R.S. 51:1785(B) after May 19, 1994, is hereby abolished as an enterprise zone and shall be designated as an economic development zone pursuant to this Subsection upon notice of the appropriate governing authority to the department. In addition, any block group eligible pursuant to R.S. 51:1784(A) for designation as an enterprise zone but which had become ineligible for designation as an enterprise zone because of such an alternative designation shall again be eligible for designation as an enterprise zone pursuant to Subsection A of this Section. Added by Acts 1981, No. 901, §1. Amended by Acts 1982, No. 337, §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.