# La. Rev. Stat. § 42:4: Public officers appointed by the governor

> Louisiana · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_LA_Crevised-statutes_T42_S4

## Section

- **Citation:** La. Rev. Stat. § 42:4
- **Heading:** Public officers appointed by the governor
- **Jurisdiction:** Louisiana
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 42 / Section 4

## Text

A.(1) Except as otherwise provided by law, all public officers who are appointed by the governor shall serve at the pleasure of the governor.

(2) Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall not apply to officers appointed by the governor upon recommendation or from lists submitted by others where the law requires appointments to be so made, nor to those whose terms of office are fixed by the constitution and those who are required by the constitution to be appointed with the advice and consent of the Senate.

B.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the governor may appoint the chairman or the presiding member of each board and commission so long as both of the following criteria apply:

(a) The majority of the members of the board or commission are members of the board or commission by virtue of gubernatorial appointment.

(b) The appointment of the chairman or the presiding member is not otherwise prohibited by the Constitution of Louisiana.

(2) If the governor appoints the chairman or the presiding member of a board or commission, then the appointment shall be from among the membership of that board or commission.

(3) The governor shall submit the name of persons appointed pursuant to this Subsection to the Senate for confirmation.

(4) A chairman or presiding member of a board or commission appointed by the governor pursuant to this Subsection and confirmed by the Senate serves in that position at the pleasure of the governor.

(5) Until the governor appoints a chairman or presiding member of a board or commission pursuant to this Subsection, a board or commission may select its chairman or presiding member in the manner otherwise provided by law or in its rules, regulations, or bylaws.

C. The provisions of Subsection B of this Section shall not apply to any board or commission that as of May 1, 2024, is chaired by a statewide elected official.

Acts 1950, No. 68, §3. Amended by Acts 1950, 2nd Ex.Sess., No. 22, §1; Acts 1992, No. 447, §4; Acts 2008, No. 743, §7, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2024, No. 491, §1, eff. June 5, 2024.

## Nearby sections

- [La. Rev. Stat. § 42:1 Public office defined](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_LA_Crevised-statutes_T42_S1.md)
- [La. Rev. Stat. § 42:2 Public officer to hold office until successor inducted](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_LA_Crevised-statutes_T42_S2.md)
- [La. Rev. Stat. § 42:2.1 Boards, commissions, councils, authorities, entities; composition](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_LA_Crevised-statutes_T42_S2.1.md)
- [La. Rev. Stat. § 42:2.2 Boards, commissions, councils, authorities, and entities; immediate family members](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_LA_Crevised-statutes_T42_S2.2.md)
- [La. Rev. Stat. § 42:3 Limitation of terms of employees or officials elected by boards; exceptions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_LA_Crevised-statutes_T42_S3.md)
- [La. Rev. Stat. § 42:3.1 Legislative members of boards and commissions; per diem](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_LA_Crevised-statutes_T42_S3.1.md)
- [La. Rev. Stat. § 42:4 Public officers appointed by the governor](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_LA_Crevised-statutes_T42_S4.md)
- [La. Rev. Stat. § 42:11 Short title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_LA_Crevised-statutes_T42_S11.md)
- [La. Rev. Stat. § 42:12 Public policy for open meetings; liberal construction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_LA_Crevised-statutes_T42_S12.md)
- [La. Rev. Stat. § 42:13 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_LA_Crevised-statutes_T42_S13.md)
- [La. Rev. Stat. § 42:14 Meetings of public bodies to be open to the public](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_LA_Crevised-statutes_T42_S14.md)
- [La. Rev. Stat. § 42:15 School board meetings; public comment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_LA_Crevised-statutes_T42_S15.md)
- [La. Rev. Stat. § 42:16 Executive Sessions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_LA_Crevised-statutes_T42_S16.md)
- [La. Rev. Stat. § 42:17 Exceptions to open meetings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_LA_Crevised-statutes_T42_S17.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_LA_Crevised-statutes_T42_S4. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.
