The commission is created as a body politic and has several operating powers, including suing and being sued, acquiring property, hiring staff, making rules, and opening satellite laboratories.
§2265. Commission as body politic; powers A. The North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory Commission is created as a body politic with the right to sue and be sued, to acquire any and all property necessary for its maintenance and operation by all lawful means, to incur debt in anticipation of its revenues, to accept gifts and donations, to establish rules and regulations for the conduct of its affairs, to employ necessary personnel, to require bond for the handling of its funds in an amount to be determined by it; provided that employees of said commission, as a condition of employment, shall become members of the Parochial Employees Retirement System of Louisiana according to laws relative thereto; and provided further, that title to fixtures, equipment, assets, or other property of any kind which have been provided by any coroner, law enforcement agency, or by the governing authority of any city, town, or parish for the initial establishment of the Northwest Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory, shall remain in such coroner, law enforcement agency, or governing authority of any city, town, or parish. B. The North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory Commission shall have the authority to establish and maintain branch or "satellite" laboratories at any location in the area served by the commission. The work performed by and the reports of such satellite laboratories established by the predecessor commission (Northwest Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory Commission) or hereafter established shall have the same validity and authority accorded to the laboratory at the commission domicile. Acts 1981, No. 168, §1.