Louisiana 2013 2013 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HB351 Engrossed / Bill

                    HLS 13RS-695	REENGROSSED
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE BILL NO. 351
BY REPRESENTATIVES LEOPOLD AND WESLEY BI SHOP AND SENATOR
MORRELL
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
TRANSPORTATION:  Requires highly traveled bridges to receive certain treatment within
the highway priority system
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 48:229(B), relative to the highway priority construction2
program; to provide relative to priorities for bridges within the proposed program of3
construction for highways; and to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1.  R.S. 48:229(B) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 6
ยง229.  Priority reports on current construction projects7
*          *          *8
B. In fixing priorities, the department shall consider primarily the condition9
of the roads, streets, and structures making up the state highway system and the10
relative urgency of the improvements considering in their order general needs, traffic11
volume, accident records, technical difficulties in the preparation of plans and the12
procurement of rights-of-way, as well as unforeseeable emergencies such as floods.13
In fixing priorities, the department shall also consider and include capacity14
improvements in geographic areas where population has grown or traffic volume has15
increased and capacity improvements are necessary.  In fixing priorities for bridges,16
the department may give higher priority to bridges with high volumes of traffic.17 HLS 13RS-695	REENGROSSED
HB NO. 351
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.  [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Leopold	HB No. 351
Abstract:  Provides that the Dept. of Transportation and Development (DOTD) shall give
bridges with high traffic volumes higher priority while setting priorities for the
program of highway construction for the ensuing fiscal year.
Present law provides that DOTD shall provide the legislature with a program of construction
for highways to be commenced in the ensuing year, which is to be based on the anticipated
revenues to be appropriated by the legislature and listed in an order of priority of projects
for each of the 12 functional classifications of state highways.
Present law provides that the order of priorities are to be based on an illustrative list of
factors.
Present law further provides that DOTD shall consider certain conditions in fixing priorities.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that in fixing priorities for bridges, DOTD
may give higher priority to bridges with high volumes of traffic.
(Amends R.S. 48:229(B))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
House Floor Amendments to the engrossed  bill.
1. Modified proposed law to specify that DOTD may, rather than shall, give higher
priority for bridges with high traffic volumes when fixing priorities.