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 511 Original 2021 Regular Session McFarland
Abstract: Provides for budgetary controls and oversight for the operating budget and capital project
expenditures of the Dept. of Transportation and Development (DOTD).
Proposed law establishes the Commission on Government Reform in Transportation for the purpose
of assessing DOTD's operations, employee salaries and related benefits, and capital project
expenditures.
Proposed law requires the legislative auditor to commence a comprehensive audit of DOTD, which
shall include a review of DOTD's operations, organizational efficiency, and use of the avails of taxes
deposited into the Construction Subfund of the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF).
Present law requires the treasurer to deposit the avails of taxes from the sale, use, lease or rental,
distribution, consumption, and storage for use or consumption of motor vehicles into the TTF.
Proposed law removes this requirement and instead requires the legislature to appropriate the avails
of these taxes to DOTD for operational costs.
Proposed law requires DOTD to utilize all other of means of finance to the extent possible prior to
utilizing the funding authorized in proposed law.
Present law requires the treasurer to deposit an amount equal to an increase in general fund revenues
as certified by the Revenue Estimating Conference as being attributable to certain mineral revenues,
not in excess of $100 million per fiscal year, to the TTF.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Proposed law requires DOTD to develop an online platform to provide the public access to Highway
Priority Program project information.
Proposed law provides that projects in the Highway Priority Program shall have a designated total
cost which shall include a prorated cost associated with third-party services required by the
department to create, implement, and maintain the online platform.
Proposed law requires DOTD to utilize targeted digital technologies to raise public awareness of the
online platform, to provide project updates to the public, and to seek the public's input on projects.
(Amends R.S. 48:77; Adds R.S. 48:71, 72, and 229.2)