South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center Commission
On June 18, 2008, Governor Bobby Jindal signed into law House Bill 1206 becoming ACT 327. House Bill 1206 sponsored by Representative Gordon Dove, R-Houma created a legally-recognized board of commissioners to oversee the creation and operation of the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center as a state facility. This bill puts a legal framework in place for the nonprofit Friends of the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Foundation Board which has been overseeing the progress of this initiative. This legislation brings the discovery center initiative to the next level and not only helps it through to completion, but also allows it to compete on a statewide and regional level. At the core of the proposed change is a new oversight commission, which is composed solely of Terrebonne Parish residents who serve without compensation. The commission also has sweeping power, with authorizations to enter into certain contracts, spend money, purchase land, adopt bylaws, advise the Secretary of State and seek financial assistance. According to Dove’s bill, the commission consists of:
- Three members appointed by the Terrebonne Parish Council from six names submitted by the Friends of the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center Foundation.
- One member appointed by the Terrebonne Parish president.
- One member appointed by the senator from the 20th Senatorial District, based on two names submitted by Nicholls State University.
- One member appointed by the senator elected from the 21st Senatorial District, based on two names submitted by L.E. Fletcher Community College.
- One member appointed by the representative from the 51st Representative District, based on two names submitted by the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program.
- One member appointed by the representative from the 52nd Representative District, based on two names submitted by the Terrebonne Levee Board.
- One member appointed by the representative from the 53rd Representative District, based on two names submitted by the Houma Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Commission Members
| South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center Commission Members | |
|---|---|
| Dr. Paul Sammarco - President | Ms. Wendy Billiot |
| Ms. Emily Adams Voisin - Vice President | Ms. Brenda Leroux Babin |
| Ms. Angie Corbin - Treasurer | Ms. Martha Thibodeaux |
| Ms. Sharon Alford - Secretary | Mr. Thaddeus Mitchel Pellegrin |
| Ms. Nicole Cotten | |
