SLS 20RS-1147 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 69
BY SENATOR ALLAIN
PUBLIC UTILITIES. Establishes the One Call Agricultural Study Group.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To establish the One Call Agricultural Study Group to study the Louisiana Underground
3 Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law as it relates to agriculture and the
4 needs of the agricultural industry and make recommendations in a written report to
5 the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs,
6 and the House Committee on Commerce not later than February 1, 2021.
7 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention
8 Law was enacted to promote the protection of property, workmen, and citizens in the
9 immediate vicinity of an underground facility or utility from damage, death, or injury and
10 to promote the health and well-being of the community by preventing the interruption of
11 essential services which may result from the destruction of, or damage to, underground
12 facilities or utilities; and
13 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention
14 Law does not provide any exemption for an agricultural operator; and
15 WHEREAS, neighboring states with laws similar to the Louisiana Underground
16 Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law grant exemptions to the agricultural
17 industry; and
18 WHEREAS, a review and study of the laws of other states relating to underground
Page 1 of 3 SCR NO. 69
SLS 20RS-1147 ORIGINAL
1 utilities and facilities and their impact to the agricultural industry may bring about
2 recommendations beneficial to the agricultural industry while maintaining and preserving
3 the intent of the Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law.
4 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
5 establish the One Call Agricultural Study Group to study the Louisiana Underground
6 Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law as it relates to agriculture and the needs of
7 the agricultural industry and make recommendations as to whether the law should be
8 amended to make exemptions for the agricultural industry.
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group shall be comprised of the
10 following members:
11 (1) The chairman of the Dig Advisory Committee of Louisiana One Call or his
12 designee.
13 (2) Three representatives of the Dig Advisory Committee of Louisiana One Call,
14 designated by the committee.
15 (3) The president of the American Sugarcane League or his designee.
16 (4) The executive director of the Louisiana Forestry Association or his designee.
17 (5) The president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Inc. or his designee.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chairman of the Dig Advisory Committee
19 shall be the chairman of the study group.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this study group shall serve
21 without compensation, except per diem or expenses reimbursement to which they may be
22 individually entitled as members of the constituent organizations.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the total membership shall
24 constitute a quorum of the study group and any official action by the study group shall
25 require an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum present and voting.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the names of the members designated as
27 provided herein shall be submitted to the chair of the study group by July 15, 2020, and the
28 chair shall thereafter call the first meeting of the study group no later than August 15, 2020.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commissioner of the office of conservation,
30 Department of Natural Resources, shall be responsible for designating staff from the office
Page 2 of 3 SCR NO. 69
SLS 20RS-1147 ORIGINAL
1 of conservation to assist the study group in performing its duties.
2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that not later than February 1, 2021, the study group
3 shall report its findings and recommendations in a written report to the Senate Committee
4 on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs and the House Committee on
5 Commerce and such recommendations shall include whether exemptions to the Louisiana
6 Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law should be made for the
7 agricultural industry.
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group shall terminate on February 1,
9 2021.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
11 commissioner of the office of conservation, Department of Natural Resources, and the
12 entities named in the Resolution to be represented on the study group.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Elizabeth O'Quin.
DIGEST
SCR 69 Original 2020 Regular Session Allain
Establishes the One Call Agricultural Study Group to determine whether amendments are
needed to the Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law as it
relates to agriculture.
Requires the study group to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to
the Senate and House Committees on Commerce not later than February 1, 2021.
Page 3 of 3