Louisiana House Bill HB670

Louisiana 2016 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/4/16
• Refer: 3/4/16
• Refer: 3/14/16
• Report Pass: 4/20/16
• Engrossed: 4/28/16
• Refer: 5/2/16
• Report Pass: 5/10/16
• Enrolled: 5/26/16
• Chaptered: 6/9/16
• Passed: 6/9/16

Caption

Provides for a temporary waiver for individual sewerage systems in parishes of a certain size

Impact

The bill further grants the Department of Health and Hospitals authority to temporarily waive sanitary code requirements for individual sewerage systems during the construction of community sewerage systems in specified parishes. This waiver is contingent on several factors, including property size and the requirement for property owners to agree to connect to the new community system once available. This provision is designed to facilitate more effective community sewerage solutions while easing immediate regulatory burdens on individual systems pending the new infrastructure.

Summary

House Bill 670 focuses on the regulation of sewerage systems and districts in Louisiana, particularly concerning consolidation and mergers of sewerage districts within certain population parameters. The bill allows districts located entirely within parishes with populations between 120,000 and 160,000 to merge or consolidate. This legislative move aims to streamline sewerage management and improve efficiency in service provision to communities across these jurisdictions.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 670 appears to be positive, with broad support from legislators who view the bill as a means to enhance public health and environmental safety through improved sewage management. It reflects a proactive approach to addressing potential issues within individual sewerage systems by promoting consolidation and the eventual transition to community systems. However, the bill may not be without its critics, particularly concerning the temporary waiver of regulations which some may view as a reduction in environmental oversight during the transition period.

Contention

Notable points of contention could arise around the effectiveness and speed of transitions from individual to community sewerage systems and the temporary nature of the waivers involved. While proponents argue that this bill expedites improvements to public health infrastructure in areas with growing populations, opponents may express concerns over the adequacy of temporary measures and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that individual systems do not pose public health risks during the transition period.