HLS 14RS-363 ORIGINAL
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 881
BY REPRESENTATIVE CHAMPAGNE
PARISHES: Requires parishes receiving RESTORE Act funds to provide certain
information to the public
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 33:1236.30, relative to parish use of certain federal funds; to require reports2
of the receipt and use of such funds; to require public hearings and to provide3
relative to notice of public meetings; to provide relative to parish budgets; and to4
provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 33:1236.30 is hereby enacted to read as follows:7
ยง1236.30. Parishes receiving RESTORE Act funds8
The governing authority of a parish receiving funds from the federal9
government pursuant to the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist10
Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 shall11
comply with all of the following with respect to such funds, hereafter in this Section12
referred to as RESTORE funds:13
(1) The governing authority shall publish a quarterly report indicating, at a14
minimum, the amount of RESTORE funds received during the previous quarter and15
to date, and indicating how RESTORE funds have been spent or obligated. A copy16
of the most recent report shall be available on the parish's official website; if the17
parish does not have a website, it shall send a printed copy to any resident of the18
parish who requests it. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to the Louisiana19
Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.20 HLS 14RS-363 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 881
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
(2) Prior to expending RESTORE funds on a project, the governing authority1
shall hold a public meeting to receive public comment and suggestions on the project2
and the use of RESTORE funds therefor. Any such projects shall be in compliance3
with the master plan for integrated coastal protection developed pursuant to R.S.4
49:214.5.3.5
(3) The governing authority shall not commingle RESTORE funds and6
proceeds from the obligation of RESTORE funds with other parish funds. The7
parish budget shall itemize the revenues and authorized expenditures associated with8
RESTORE funds or with the proceeds of an obligation of RESTORE funds.9
(4) In addition to notification of open meetings as required by law, the parish10
governing authority shall provide additional public notice of any meeting at which11
the expenditure, investment, or obligation of RESTORE funds will be discussed.12
Such additional public notice shall give the date, time, and place of any such13
meeting, shall be published twice in the official journal of the political subdivision14
no more than sixty days nor less than thirty days before such public meeting, and15
shall be announced to the public during the course of a public meeting of the parish16
governing authority no more than sixty days nor less than thirty days before such17
public meeting.18
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)]
Champagne HB No. 881
Abstract: Provides relative to receipt and use by parish governing authorities of RESTORE
Act funds.
Present Federal Law, the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities,
and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (the RESTORE Act), provides
for the allocation of civil penalties under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, in
connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Provides for allocation and distribution
of some of those funds directly to coastal counties and parishes.
Proposed law provides the following requirements regarding the receipt and use by parishes
of RESTORE Act funds: HLS 14RS-363 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 881
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
(1)The governing authority shall publish a quarterly report indicating the amount of
RESTORE funds received during the previous quarter and to date, and indicating
how RESTORE funds have been spent or obligated. Requires availability of the
report on the parish's website or at the request of a parish resident and submission of
a copy to the La Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.
(2)Prior to an expenditure on a project, the governing authority shall hold a public
meeting to receive public comment and suggestions on the project. Requires that
such projects be in compliance with the master plan for integrated coastal protection,
which is provided for in present law.
(3)Prohibits commingling of RESTORE funds with other parish funds. Requires that
authorizations of expenditure of such funds be itemized in the parish budget.
(4)Requires additional public notice of any meeting at which the expenditure,
investment, or obligation of RESTORE funds will be discussed; requires publication
of such notice not more than 60 and not less than 30 days prior to such meeting and
announcing of the meeting during the course of a meeting of the parish governing
authority no more than 60 days and not less than 30 days before such meeting.
(Adds R.S. 33:1236.30)