By JIM BUTLER

Bills affecting the governing structure of Renaissance are making their way through the Legislature.

Jay Luneau’s Senate Bill 440 that increases the number of Renaissance commissioners from seven to nine cleared committee Tuesday and is pending on the Senate calendar.

Gabe Firment’s House Bill 1040 that alters membership selection for the Central Louisiana Juvenile Detention District is awaiting Senate committee consideration after unanimous House passage.

The changes are part and parcel of the state’s $39 million investment in Renaissance’s expansion to accommodate 17-year-old offenders.

Both measures amend existing statutes.

Luneau’s increases the number of commissioners from seven to nine.

Four, as opposed to the current five, would be appointed by the Police Jury. One of the four would come from the existing non-profit board as long as a member of that board exists and is capable of serving, after which that post would be filled by the Jury with a person not employed by it and who has experience with juveniles in education, rehabilitation or incarceration.

The other three Jury appointments require the same conditions.

Unchanged would be an appointment by the Sheriff and one by the District Attorney.

Added to the commission would be three appointments by the Central Louisiana Juvenile Detention District, the regional entity participating in the Renaissance expansion service area (Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Vernon and Winn parishes). Experience qualifications are the same.

Firment’s proposal would change how the district’s seven commissioners are chosen.

Each would be chosen by the chief judge, district attorney and sheriff of the respective parish. Current law provides for two members chosen by the district’s chief judges, two by district attorneys, two by sheriffs and one by the chiefs of police in the parishes.

Effective date of the changes would be August 1. Commissioner terms would be four years.