The original instrument was prepared by Jerry G. Jones. The following digest,
which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was prepared by
Nancy Vicknair.
DIGEST
Chabert (SB 305)
Proposed law provides for the Coastal Louisiana Levee Consortium to be an advisory
commission of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board. Provides that it shall be a
public body and subject to open meetings and public record laws.
Proposed law provides that the purpose of the consortium shall be to facilitate communication
and coordination of efforts to protect coastal Louisiana, its people, property, and resources; to
increase awareness and understanding of integrated coastal protection, including but not limited
to conditions, issues, strategies, and policies of flood control, coastal levee systems, hurricane
risk reduction systems, and mitigation projects; and to provide a unified voice that is
representative of the coastal levee community in communicating information necessary for
decision-making to policymakers at the state and federal levels and to the Coastal Protection
Restoration Authority and Board.
Proposed law provides that the consortium shall:
(1)Advise the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board concerning integrated
coastal protection, including but not limited to conditions, issues, strategies, and policies
of flood control, coastal levee systems, hurricane risk reduction systems, and mitigation
projects.
(2)Coordinate the exchange of information among consortium members and advise
consortium members and others in assessing and addressing the above issues.
(3)Evaluate the potential of various strategies, develop regional awareness of effective
strategies, and develop a regional plan for the improvement of regional levee systems and
integrated coastal protection.
(4)Seek the input of other local officials in assessing, addressing, or developing any regional
strategy or plan.
(5)Seek the expertise of and work in conjunction with any other interested federal, state or
local entities, including but not limited to the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the
Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, and nongovernmental organizations.
(6)Provide an annual report on the status of levees and integrated coastal protection within
the member levee districts, flood protection authorities, and parishes no later than January first of each year to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board.
Proposed law provides that the consortium members shall consist of the director, general
manager, or president, or their designee, of each board of commissioners of a coastal levee
district or flood protection authority, including the following:
(1)Atchafalaya Basin Levee District.
(2)Grand Isle Independent Levee District.
(3)Lafourche Basin Levee District.
(4)North Lafourche Conservation, Levee and Drainage District.
(5)Pontchartrain Levee District.
(6)South Lafourche Levee District.
(7)Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District.
(8)Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority - East.
(9)Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority - West.
(10)Lafitte Area Independent Levee District.
(11)St. Mary Levee District.
(l2)Iberia Parish Levee, Hurricane and Conservation District.
(13)Chenier Plain Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority.
(14)Amite River Basin Commission.
(15)Non-Flood Protection Asset Management Authority.
(16)The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans.
(17)Any other levee district or flood protection authority that may be created and made
operational for a coastal parish after January 1, 2014, including but not limited to levee
districts or flood protection authorities for Acadia, Lafayette, Jefferson Davis, St.
Tammany, and Tangipahoa parishes. However, until such time as a levee district or flood
protection authority is created and made operational for the parish, the parish president or
police jury president, or their designee, of each of the above parishes shall be a member
of the consortium. (18)Plaquemines Parish president.
Proposed law provides for the calling of meetings and election of officers from among the
consortium members, including the chairman who must already be serving on the Coastal
Protection and Restoration Authority Board.
Proposed law provides that members of the consortium shall receive no pay or allowances for
their attendance at meetings of the consortium, but may be compensated for expenses incurred in
attending meetings by their respective governing authorities according to the authority's
regulations. Participation as a member of the consortium shall be considered as a function of the
office held by the member in their governing authority. Further provides that a meeting of the
consortium shall be convened at least twice a year in the capital of the state or at a location in the
coastal area of the state, as determined by the consortium members.
Present law provides for Coastal Levee Consortium and sets forth certain purposes and duties.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 49:214.6.8; repeals R.S. 38:331)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Natural Resources to the
original bill
1. Removes Vermilion Parish from the list of consortium members who have not
created a levee district or flood protection authority.
2. Provides that the chairman will be a member who is already serving as a current
member of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill
1. Adds the Non-Flood Protection Asset Management Authority and the Sewerage
and Water Board of New Orleans to the membership of the Coastal Louisiana
Levee Consortium.