ENROLLED ACT No. 743 2022 Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO. 1048 BY REPRESENTATIVE MCKNIGHT 1 AN ACT 2 To amend and reenact R.S. 51:922 and to enact R.S. 51:938.2, relative to economic 3 development; to provide for the Department of Economic Development; to add to the 4 stated purposes of the Department of Economic Development; to require a 5 continuous program designed to attract manufacturers; to provide for incentives; to 6 provide for economic growth; to provide for workforce development; to provide for 7 job creation; to provide for wages; to provide for community investment; to provide 8 for quality of life; to provide for additional duties for the Department of Economic 9 Development; to make technical changes; and to provide for related matters. 10 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: 11 Section 1. R.S. 51:922 is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 51:938.2 is hereby 12 enacted to read as follows: 13 §922. Purpose 14 It is the purpose of this Chapter to effectuate the policy set forth in R.S. 15 51:921 by providing for all of the following: 16 (1) A program designed to create a non-political Department of Economic 17 Development operated by a thoroughly professional staff;. 18 (2) A continuing program of economic and industrial planning, and industrial 19 development;. 20 (3) A continuing program designed to furnish information to the general 21 public and to state, regional, parish and local governmental and private agencies 22 concerning ways and means of effectuating the policy set forth in R.S. 51:921; and. 23 (4) A continuing program of commercial and industrial planning, education, 24 cooperation and assistance between the State of Louisiana and foreign countries, the Page 1 of 3 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HB NO. 1048 ENROLLED 1 federal government, other states and state, regional, parish and local public and 2 private agencies and individuals. 3 (5) A continuing program designed to attract manufacturing facilities to this 4 state, with a focus on economic incentives, necessary infrastructure, workforce 5 development, and the potential benefits a manufacturing facility would provide the 6 state, including but not limited to job creation, wages, community investment, and 7 quality of life. 8 * * * 9 §938.2. Additional Duties of the Department of Economic Development; 10 Manufacturing Development 11 A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the 12 Department of Economic Development shall do all of the following regarding 13 manufacturing: 14 (1)(a) Develop and implement a state strategic plan for attracting 15 manufacturers to the state. 16 (b) The purpose of the state strategic plan is to design a program for the 17 preparation and distribution of promotional and informational materials citing the 18 key economic benefits of locating manufacturing facilities in the state. 19 (2) Monitor the implementation of the state strategic plan to attract 20 manufacturers to the state. 21 (3) Develop a plan to identify areas of land for future manufacturing use. 22 (4) Identify manufacturing sites that are ready for development. 23 (5) Develop a plan in conjunction with the office of workforce development 24 and Technical College System for the training of skilled workers to ensure a scalable 25 workforce. 26 (6) Develop a plan for locating and identifying property for potential 27 workforce housing. 28 B. The department shall promote the development of the manufacturing 29 industry within this state and may engage in all of the following activities: Page 2 of 3 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HB NO. 1048 ENROLLED 1 (1) Contracting with and directing trade or industry representatives for the 2 purpose of promoting Louisiana as a site for the development of future 3 manufacturing facilities. 4 (2) Serving as an informational clearinghouse and providing technical 5 assistance to individuals and entities engaged in manufacturing by compiling, 6 producing, publishing, and updating a comprehensive directory on sites, facilities, 7 services, tax incentives, and permitting practices for the state. 8 (3) Participating in regional, national, and international manufacturing 9 conferences and networking opportunities. 10 (4) Sponsoring workshops and seminars on topics including but not limited 11 to legal and financial aspects of locating manufacturers in the state. 12 C. All departments, commissions, boards, agencies, officers, and institutions 13 of this state and all subdivisions thereof shall cooperate with the office in carrying 14 out the purposes of this Section. 15 D. The department is hereby designated as the applicant, administrative 16 body, and recipient for accepting and administering any and all state, federal, and 17 private funds awarded to and allocated by this state for any purpose covered by this 18 Section. 19 E. The department shall provide the Legislature of Louisiana with an annual 20 report regarding the provisions of this Section at least thirty days before the covening 21 of the regular legislative session. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED: Page 3 of 3 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.