Provides for the disposition of funds recovered in settlement of the state and parish coastal zone litigation (OR SEE FISC NOTE OF EX)
Impact
The implementation of this bill significantly impacts Louisiana's coastal management policies and practices, as it centralizes oversight in the new Coastal Zone Recovery Authority. This body will distribute funds accrued from legal settlements, ensuring they are utilized for ecological restoration, community protection, and infrastructure related to coastal resilience. It includes provisions to specifically support local projects that align with the state's coastal master plan, potentially enhancing local capabilities to respond to environmental challenges.
Summary
House Bill 569 establishes the Louisiana Coastal Zone Recovery Authority, tasked with managing settlement funds arising from litigation concerning the state's coastal zones. The bill outlines how these funds are to be allocated for various projects relating to coastal protection, restoration, and resilience efforts. Its objectives include overseeing the implementation of projects that comply with settled lawsuits while adhering to ecological and community protection standards as detailed in the established guidelines.
Sentiment
The sentiment surrounding HB 569 is notably supportive from local governments and ecological advocacy groups who see it as a long-overdue mechanism for ensuring that financial resources from coastal litigation directly benefit the affected communities and environments. However, some stakeholders express concerns about the effectiveness and transparency of the authority in its allocation of funds, fearing that without rigorous oversight, the benefits of the settlement funds could be diluted or mismanaged.
Contention
While the bill aims to create a comprehensive framework for coastal recovery, notable points of contention arise regarding local governance. Some legislators worry that centralized control may undermine local input into project prioritization and implementation. Critics argue that the authority needs to establish clearer mechanisms for community engagement to ensure that the unique needs of different parishes are adequately addressed, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach to coastal recovery.
Transfers the responsibilities of the Atchafalaya Basin Research and Promotion Board and the Atchafalaya Basin Program from within the Department of Natural Resources to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. (7/1/18) (EN SEE FISC NOTE SD EX See Note)
Requests the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the Department of Transportation and Development to determine what monies, state or federal, are available for flood control projects in the coastal zone or coastal area, and in the area outside the coastal area.
Approves the annual state integrated coastal protection plan for Fiscal Year 2022, as adopted by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board.
Provides for the disposition of certain state sales and use tax collections for the purpose of fortifying residential roofs in the coastal zone (EG SEE FISC NOTE SD RV See Note)
Human services: medical services; general changes to the medical assistance program; provide for. Amends secs. 105d & 106 of 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.105d & 400.106) & repeals secs. 105c & 105f of 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.105c & 400.105f).