HLS 19RS-152 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 501
BY REPRESENTATIVE BISHOP
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
ENVIRONMENT/LITTERING: Transfers the Louisiana Environmental Education
Commission to the Department of Education
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 30:2503(A)(1) and (C)(2), 2504(2) and (7), 2506(A) and (B)(4),
3 and 2517(A)(introductory paragraph), to enact R.S. 30:2522 and R.S. 36:651(CC),
4 and to repeal R.S. 36:610(B)(10) and R.S. 56:10(B)(15), relative to the Louisiana
5 Environmental Education Commission; to provide for the Louisiana Environmental
6 Education Commission; to provide for the transfer of the commission to the
7 Department of Education; to provide for duties and responsibilities; to provide for
8 definitions; to provide for staff; and to provide for related matters.
9Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 30:2503(A)(1) and (C)(2), 2504(2) and (7), 2506(A) and (B)(4), and
112517(A)(introductory paragraph) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 30:2522 is
12hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 §2503. Louisiana Environmental Education Commission; creation; membership;
14 duties
15 A.(1) There is hereby created, within the Department of Wildlife and
16 Fisheries Education, the Louisiana Environmental Education Commission,
17 hereinafter referred to as the "commission".
18 * * *
19 C. The commission shall:
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2 (2) Advise and assist the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and
3 Fisheries state superintendent of education, the governor, the legislature, the
4 secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, and other state agencies,
5 including university extension services, conservation and environmental
6 organizations, community action groups, and nature and environmental centers on
7 policies and practices needed to provide environmental education.
8 * * *
9 §2504. Definitions
10 As used in this Part, the following words have the meanings ascribed to them
11 unless the context requires otherwise:
12 * * *
13 (2) "Department" means the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
14 Education.
15 * * *
16 (7) "Section" means the environmental education and litter reduction section
17 located within and acting through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
18 Education.
19 * * *
20 §2506. Environmental Education and Litter Reduction Section; staff; powers and
21 duties; cooperation; funding
22 A. There is hereby created, within the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries,
23 office of wildlife Education, the environmental education and litter reduction section
24 which shall assist the commission and perform responsibilities relative to education
25 and litter control as provided for in this Chapter. Insofar as funds are appropriated,
26 staff may be employed under the direction and control of the secretary and in
27 accordance with policies of the department.
28 B. The section shall implement the provisions of this Part relative to
29 environmental education, including the following:
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2 (4) Promote and aid in the establishment and assessment of elementary and
3 secondary school environmental education programs through cooperation with the
4 Department of Education and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
5 * * *
6 §2517. Curriculum framework
7 A. The commission shall work with the Department of Education to develop
8 a curriculum framework for establishing environmental education programs in all
9 public and private elementary and secondary schools. The program shall integrate
10 environmental concepts and skills into regular curricula, which include:
11 * * *
12 (R.S. 56:10(B)(15)) §2522. Litter Abatement and Education Fund
13 (a) A. There is hereby created within the Conservation Fund a special
14 account known as the "litter abatement and education account" the Litter Abatement
15 and Education Fund which, not withstanding any other provision of law to the
16 contrary, shall consist of donations collected from the sale of the environmental
17 education license plate provided for in R.S. 47:463.43; revenue received by the
18 Conservation Fund from the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of
19 motor vehicles as provided in R.S. 32:412; revenue received by the Conservation
20 Fund from fines for violations of the provisions of Part I of Chapter 21 of Subtitle
21 II of Title 30 as provided in R.S. 30:2531 and 2532; funds from public or private
22 donations and any other source which may specify deposit to this account; and any
23 remaining balance in the Louisiana Environmental Education Fund as of August 15,
24 2011. The revenues shall be subject to the same requirements as provided for other
25 revenues placed in the Conservation Fund in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.
26 (b) B. The funds in this account shall be used solely for the following:
27 (i) (1) To develop, review, approve, and implement a plan for statewide
28 environmental education.
29 (ii) (2) To provide for environmental education grant programs in the state.
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1 (iii) (3) To develop an environmental education curriculum framework.
2 (iv) (4) To develop guidelines for incorporating environmental education into
3 teacher education requirements.
4 (v) (5) To develop environmental education teacher professional
5 development.
6 (vi) (6) To provide for formal environmental education.
7 (vii) (7) To provide for litter abatement and enforcement.
8 (viii) (8) To support community-based litter abatement programs.
9 (ix) (9) To develop, disseminate, and assess litter education and awareness
10 programs and materials.
11 Section 2. R.S. 36:651(CC) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 §651. Transfer of boards, commissions, departments, and agencies to Department
13 of Education; boards, commissions, and agencies within Department of
14 Education
15 * * *
16 CC. The Louisiana Environmental Education Commission is placed within
17 the Department of Education and shall exercise and perform its powers, duties,
18 functions, and responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 36:802.
19 Section 3. R.S. 36:610(B)(10) and R.S. 56:10(B)(15) are hereby repealed in their
20entirety.
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)]
HB 501 Original 2019 Regular Session Bishop
Abstract: Moves the La. Environmental Education Commission from the Dept. of Wildlife
and Fisheries to the Dept. of Education.
Present law creates within the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries the La. Environmental
Education Commission that develops and promotes environmental education and, through
the commission's staff section, administers litter abatement programs.
Proposed law moves the La. Environmental Education Commission from the Dept. of
Wildlife and Fisheries to the Dept. of Education.
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Present law creates the "litter abatement and education account" within the Conservation
Fund that is funded from donations from the sale of the environmental education license
plate, revenue from the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor vehicles,
litter fines, and from public and private donations.
Proposed law retains present law except creates the Litter Abatement and Education Fund.
Present law provides the funds can be used solely for environmental education and litter
abatement programs. Proposed law retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 30:2503(A)(1) and (C)(2), 2504(2) and (7), 2506(A) and (B)(4), and
2517(A)(intro. para.); Adds R.S. 30:2522 and R.S. 36:651(CC); Repeals R.S. 36:610(B)(10)
and R.S. 56:10(B)(15))
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