Committee advances bill letting City Park Conservancy carry insurance and allowing legislative designees
March 11, 2026 | 2026 Legislature LA, Louisiana
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On March 11, 2026, the Committee on Local Municipal Affairs advanced Senate Bill 385, a measure that amends governance and insurance treatment for New Orleans City Park.
Senator Harris, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure would allow the state senator and state representative who sit on the City Park Improvement Association and City Park Conservancy boards to appoint designees and would clarify insurance obligations when a nonprofit operator maintains its own coverage. "So the bill prevents duplicative insurance coverage and unnecessary cost to the nonprofit corporation operating the park," Harris said.
The sponsor described the City Park Improvement Association as the independent state agency that governs the property known as New Orleans City Park and said the City Park Conservancy, a nonprofit, currently operates day-to-day park functions under contract and employs park personnel.
Rebecca Dietz, introduced by the sponsor as the facility manager, answered technical questions about insurance. Dietz said the operator's commercial general liability (CGL) coverage in the operator's contract is $2,000,000 with an excess policy of $5,000,000. The sponsor and staff said the park's assets remain state property and that an indemnity agreement between the conservancy and the improvement association is intended to protect the state from liability arising from park operations.
Committee members asked whether the statute prescribes minimum insurance limits. Senator Bass pressed for clarity on what coverage would be required, and Dietz and the sponsor pointed to the existing contract amounts. The committee also confirmed the district would not be required to pay duplicate coverage into the state's Office of Risk Management when the nonprofit maintains its own liability and worker coverage.
Senator Boudreaux moved to report the bill favorably; the motion carried without recorded opposition and the committee reported SB 385 favorably.
What's next: The bill was reported favorably by the committee and, absent further amendment, will proceed toward floor action.
Senator Harris, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure would allow the state senator and state representative who sit on the City Park Improvement Association and City Park Conservancy boards to appoint designees and would clarify insurance obligations when a nonprofit operator maintains its own coverage. "So the bill prevents duplicative insurance coverage and unnecessary cost to the nonprofit corporation operating the park," Harris said.
The sponsor described the City Park Improvement Association as the independent state agency that governs the property known as New Orleans City Park and said the City Park Conservancy, a nonprofit, currently operates day-to-day park functions under contract and employs park personnel.
Rebecca Dietz, introduced by the sponsor as the facility manager, answered technical questions about insurance. Dietz said the operator's commercial general liability (CGL) coverage in the operator's contract is $2,000,000 with an excess policy of $5,000,000. The sponsor and staff said the park's assets remain state property and that an indemnity agreement between the conservancy and the improvement association is intended to protect the state from liability arising from park operations.
Committee members asked whether the statute prescribes minimum insurance limits. Senator Bass pressed for clarity on what coverage would be required, and Dietz and the sponsor pointed to the existing contract amounts. The committee also confirmed the district would not be required to pay duplicate coverage into the state's Office of Risk Management when the nonprofit maintains its own liability and worker coverage.
Senator Boudreaux moved to report the bill favorably; the motion carried without recorded opposition and the committee reported SB 385 favorably.
What's next: The bill was reported favorably by the committee and, absent further amendment, will proceed toward floor action.
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