The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Sharon F. Lyles.
DIGEST
Mills (SB 223)
Proposed law creates the Coastal Port Advisory Authority in the office of multimodal planning,
Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), to perform its duties, functions, and
responsibilities in an advisory capacity in order for the state to determine how it may best
position itself to take advantage of pending private sector investments in deepwater oil and gas
resources in the Gulf of Mexico.
Proposed law provides for membership as follows:
(1)One member appointed at large by the governor who shall serve as chairman and have
knowledge of the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
(2)The governor's executive assistant for coastal activities or his designee.
(3)The secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development or his designee.
(4)The secretary of the Department of Economic Development or his designee.
(5)The secretary of the Department of Natural Resources or his designee.
(6)A representative of the Ports Association of Louisiana selected by its chairman of the
board of directors.
(7)One member from each of Louisiana's coastal ports appointed by each port's executive
director.
(8)One member from each of Louisiana's deep draft ports appointed by each port's executive
director.
Proposed law requires the members to select a vice chairman to serve in the absence of the
chairman, and for the marine and rail transportation administrator within the office of multimodal
planning DOTD to serve as secretary of the authority who shall not vote.
Proposed law provides that the authority be advisory in nature; requires the authority, relative to
the state's coastal and deep draft ports, to research and study economic development
opportunities available to the state's maritime industries and the needs of the oil and gas industry,
to inventory and evaluate port resources and infrastructure, including existing and future resource
and infrastructure needs in order to attract business and increase future market shares, to identify
technical research and previously developed information on available markets, to study port capacities and utilization, to identify potential future deficit areas, and to investigate incentives
for port development.
Proposed law provides that the authority shall not be eligible to apply for or receive funding from
the Port Construction and Development Priority Program as provided in R.S. 34:3451 et seq.
Proposed law prohibits the authority from advising on any matter related to the Port Construction
and Development Priority Program.
Proposed law requires the authority, beginning not later than May 1, 2015, and not later than May
1 annually thereafter, to report the progress of its activities to the house and senate committees on
transportation, highways, and public works.
Proposed law authorizes the authority to call upon the expertise of others with knowledge of Gulf
of Mexico deep water exploration and production, including but not limited to, the Louisiana
Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, the American
Petroleum Institute, the National Ocean Industries Association, the Gulf Economic Survival
Team, Chambers of Commerce, Louisiana universities, fabrication companies, and port
organizations.
Proposed law authorizes interagency agreements between executive agencies and departments of
the state represented on the authority to share costs necessary to perform authority duties,
functions, and responsibilities.
Proposed law provides a majority of the members constitutes a quorum and requires a favorable
vote of at least a simple majority of the total membership present to take action on any matter;
requires the board to meet at least annually and authorizes more frequent meetings upon the call
of the chairman; provides that the members serve without salary or mileage or expense
reimbursement from the authority.
Proposed law terminates the authority on June 30, 2018.
Effective August 1, 2013.
(Adds R.S. 34:3551 and 3552 and R.S. 36:509(U))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways,
and Public Works to the original bill
1. Removes representative of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association
as a member of the authority's board. 2. Provides that authority is not eligible to apply for or receive funding from the Port
Construction and Development Priority Program.
3. Prohibits authority from advising on any matter related to the Port Construction
and Development Priority Program.
4. Requires the authority, beginning not later than May 1, 2015, and not later than
May 1 annually thereafter, to report its progress to the house and senate
committees on transportation, highways, and public works.
5. Authorizes authority to call upon the expertise of others with knowledge of Gulf
of Mexico deep water exploration and production, including but not limited to, the
Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, the Louisiana Oil and Gas
Association, the American Petroleum Institute, the National Ocean Industries
Association, the Gulf Economic Survival Team, Chambers of Commerce,
Louisiana universities, fabrication companies, and port organizations.
6. Authorizes interagency agreements between executive agencies and departments
of the state represented on the authority to share costs necessary to perform
authority duties, functions, and responsibilities.
7. Terminates the authority on June 30, 2018.