HLS 13RS-3199 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 3
Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 150
BY REPRESENTATIVES PYLANT AND GAROFALO
WATER/WELLS: Urges and requests the office of conservation to study, report, and make
recommendations on the availability of qualified water well drillers, water well
driller licensing requirements, and their impact on the rates charged for drilling water
wells
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Department of Natural Resources, office of conservation, in2
consultation with the Ground Water Resources Commission, to study, report, and3
make recommendations on the availability of qualified water well drillers, water well4
driller licensing requirements, and their impact on the rates charged for drilling of5
water wells and to submit the report and recommendation to the House Committee6
on Natural Resources and Environment and the Senate Committee on Natural7
Resources on or before February 15, 2014.8
WHEREAS, the water resources of the state are a precious natural resource necessary9
for public health, safety, and economic well-being; and10
WHEREAS, the water resources of the state and the United States, generally, are in11
high demand and are in need of conservation and protection; and12
WHEREAS, an important aspect of conservation and protection of our water13
resources is ensuring that only qualified water well drillers install water wells, not only for14
the sake of their customers, but also for the general public; and15
WHEREAS, every person, firm, or corporation engaged, or desiring to engage in the16
business of drilling water wells is by law required to be licensed; and17
WHEREAS, despite the current demand for water well drillers, the decline in the18
number of licensed water well drillers has outpaced new drillers; and19 HLS 13RS-3199 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 150
Page 2 of 3
WHEREAS, the demand for water wells, especially for shallow wells less than two1
hundred feet for agricultural use, has increased; and2
WHEREAS, the decrease in the availability of licensed water well drillers and its3
potential impact on the rates charged have lead land owners to seek options to install water4
wells themselves on their own land for agricultural use; and5
WHEREAS, Act No. 437 of the 2009 Regular Session of the Legislature transferred,6
along with other responsibilities ground water resource management, the administration of7
the laws, rules, and regulations providing for the licensing of water well drillers from the8
Department of Transportation and Development to the Department of Natural Resources,9
office of conservation; and10
WHEREAS, the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment11
considered House Bill No. 208 with great discussion on several issues, including the demand12
of, the qualifications for, the two year apprentice requirement for, and the testing13
requirements for licensing water well drillers, and the role of the advisory committee,14
created by R.S. 38:3098.6.15
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby16
urge and request the Department of Natural Resources, office of conservation, in17
consultation with the Ground Water Resources Commission, to study and report a detailed18
review of the availability and demand of qualified water well drillers, the demand for19
shallow water wells less than two hundred feet for agricultural use, the rules and regulations20
regarding the licensing of water well drillers, including but not limited to qualifications, the21
two year apprentice requirement, and the testing of water well drillers, as well as the role of22
the advisory committee created by R.S. 38:3098.6, in ensuring that only qualified water well23
drillers are licensed to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment and24
the Senate Committee on Natural Resources by February 15, 2014.25
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge26
and request the Department of Natural Resources, office of conservation, in consultation27
with the Ground Water Resources Commission, to propose recommendations to address the28
concerns of the availability of qualified water well drillers and its impact on the rates29
charged, changes, if any, to the rules and regulations on the licensing of qualified water well30 HLS 13RS-3199 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 150
Page 3 of 3
drillers, including but not limited to changes to qualifications, the two-year apprentice1
requirement, and the testing of prospective water well drillers, to ensure that the state's2
precious natural water resources are protected for public health, safety, and economic3
well-being, and report any such recommendations to the House Committee on Natural4
Resources and Environment and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources by February5
15, 2014.6
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the7
Department of Natural Resources, commissioner of conservation.8
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)]
Pylant HCR No. 150
Urges and requests the Dept. of Natural Resources, office of conservation, in consultation
with the Ground Water Resources Commission, to study, report, and make recommendations
on the availability of qualified water well drillers, water well driller licensing requirements,
and their impact on the rates charged for drilling water wells.