2017 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1
BY SENATORS MORRISH AND ALARIO
A RESOLUTION
To approve the annual integrated coastal protection plan for Fiscal Year 2018 as adopted by
the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board.
WHEREAS, R.S. 49:214.5.1 et seq. creates the Coastal Protection and Restoration
Authority Board (board) to represent the state's position in policy relative to the protection,
conservation, enhancement, and restoration of the coastal area of the state through oversight
of integrated coastal protection projects and programs; and
WHEREAS, R.S. 49:214.5.1 et seq. provides that the board shall develop, coordinate,
make reports on, and provide oversight for the comprehensive coastal protection annual
plan; and
WHEREAS, R.S. 49:214.6.1 et seq. provides for the creation, duties, and
responsibilities of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority as the implementation
and enforcement arm of the board and that through its offices and officers, the authority shall
be responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the annual state integrated coastal
protection plan; and
WHEREAS, the annual state integrated coastal protection plan represents a state
policy for protecting, conserving, enhancing and restoring Louisiana's coastal area through
the construction and management of integrated coastal protection projects and programs,
including coastal protection and restoration projects and hurricane protection projects, which
are projects that may require, without limitation, funding for associated measures such as the
beneficial use of dredged material, rehabilitation and repair of state restoration projects,
environmental and regulatory compliance, acquisition of land easements, right-of-ways,
relocations and disposal areas, maintenance programs, conservation and restoration
partnerships, reserve fund contingencies and other innovative programs, provided that such
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funding for associated measures shall be allocated to the projects based on priority status as
identified by the annual state integrated coastal protection plan in order to more effectively
respond to the ever-changing coastal crisis; and
WHEREAS, R.S. 49:214.5.3 requires that, as part of the development of the annual
plan, the board shall conduct not less than three public hearings in separate locations in the
western, central, and eastern areas of the coastal area for the purpose of receiving comments
and recommendations from the public and elected officials; and
WHEREAS, R.S. 49:214.5.3 also requires that at least two weeks prior to each public
hearing, the board must contact the parish governing authorities, regional flood protection
authorities, levee districts, and the state legislators of the parishes in the coastal areas for the
purpose of soliciting their comments and recommendations and notifying them of the public
hearing to be held in their area; and
WHEREAS, R.S. 49:214.5.3 requires the board to receive written comments and
recommendations until thirty days prior to the submission of the master plan to the
legislative committees; and
WHEREAS, given that the 2017 coastal master plan is also being presented to the
Louisiana Legislature this year, the annual plan has undergone the public comment process
in conjunction with the coastal master plan, which is well above and beyond the public
outreach required by law; and
WHEREAS, as required under the provisions of R.S. 49:214.5.3, the annual state
integrated coastal protection plan adopted by the board shall be submitted to the House
Committee on Natural Resources and Environment, the Senate Committee on Natural
Resources, the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works, and the
Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works, on or before the
fifteenth day of the regular legislative session of each year; and
WHEREAS, these committees shall take action on the annual plan on or before June
first of each calendar year; and
WHEREAS, the annual state integrated coastal protection plan shall become
effective and implemented upon approval of the annual plan by a majority of both houses
of the legislature, or if a majority of both houses of the legislature fails to disapprove the
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annual state integrated coastal protection plan by July 1, 2017, it shall become immediately
effective and implemented.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby approve the Fiscal Year 2018 annual plan for integrated coastal protection, as
adopted by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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