HLS 22RS-686 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 476
BY REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT
ECONOMIC DEVELOP/DEPT: Places the Department of Economic Development within
the office of the lieutenant governor
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 36:101(A), 102(A), 103, 106(A), and 107(A), relative to the
3 Department of Economic Development; to place the department within the office of
4 the lieutenant governor; to provide relative to the authority of the lieutenant governor
5 with respect to the department; to provide relative the appointment of officers of the
6 department; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 36:101(A), 102(A), 103, 106(A), and 107(A) are hereby amended
9and reenacted to read as follows:
10 §101. Department of Economic Development; creation; domicile; composition;
11 purposes and functions
12 A. The Department of Economic Development is created and shall be a body
13 corporate with the power to sue and be sued. The domicile of the department shall
14 be in Baton Rouge, and the department is in the office of the lieutenant governor.
15 * * *
16 §102. Officers of the department; compensation for one office only
17 A. The officers of the department shall be the secretary, if a secretary is
18 appointed, the undersecretary, the deputy secretary if a deputy secretary is appointed,
19 and assistant secretaries, each of whom shall be selected and shall perform functions
20 as provided in this Title.
21 * * *
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HB NO. 476
1 §103. Secretary of economic development
2 A. There shall may be a secretary of economic development, who shall be
3 appointed by the lieutenant governor with consent of the Senate and who shall serve
4 at the pleasure of the lieutenant governor at a salary fixed by the lieutenant governor,
5 which salary shall not exceed the amount approved for such position by the
6 legislature while in session. The secretary shall serve as the executive head and chief
7 administrative officer of the Department of Economic Development and shall have
8 the responsibility for the policies of the department, except as otherwise provided by
9 this Title, and for the administration, control, and operation of the functions,
10 programs, and affairs of the department; provided that the secretary shall perform his
11 functions under the general control and supervision of the lieutenant governor.
12 B. If a secretary is not appointed as provided in Subsection A of this Section,
13 the lieutenant governor shall perform all duties, functions, and responsibilities of the
14 secretary as are provided by law.
15 * * *
16 §106. Undersecretary; functions; office of management and finance
17 A. There shall be an undersecretary of the Department of Economic
18 Development who shall be appointed by the lieutenant governor with the consent of
19 the Senate and who shall serve at the pleasure of the lieutenant governor, at a salary
20 fixed by the lieutenant governor, which salary shall not exceed the amount approved
21 for such position by the legislature while in session. The undersecretary shall be
22 directly responsible to and shall perform his functions under the supervision and
23 control of the secretary.
24 * * *
25 §107. Assistant secretaries
26 A. Each office within the Department of Economic Development, except the
27 office of management and finance and the office of entertainment industry
28 development, shall be under the immediate supervision and direction of an assistant
29 secretary. The assistant secretary of each such office shall be appointed by the
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HB NO. 476
1 lieutenant governor with the consent of the Senate. Each shall serve at the pleasure
2 of the lieutenant governor and shall be paid a salary which shall be fixed by the
3 lieutenant governor, which salary shall not exceed the amount approved for such
4 position by the legislature while in session.
5 * * *
6 Section 2. The secretary, the undersecretary, the deputy secretary, and each assistant
7secretary of the Department of Economic Development in office on the effective date of this
8Act shall remain in office and continue to exercise his authority as provided by law until the
9lieutenant governor takes action pursuant to this Act to provide otherwise.
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 476 Original 2022 Regular Session Wright
Abstract: Places the La. Dept. of Economic Development (the department) with the office
of the lieutenant governor.
Present law creates the department as one of the 20 executive branch departments authorized
by the constitution. Provides for the appointment of the secretary, undersecretary, and
assistant secretaries by the governor with consent of the Senate. Provides for the powers and
duties of these officers.
Proposed law places the department within the office of the lieutenant governor. Authorizes
the lieutenant governor to appoint a secretary of the department; provides that if a secretary
is not appointed, the lieutenant governor shall exercise the duties, functions, and
responsibilities of the secretary.
Proposed law provides that the lieutenant governor shall appoint the undersecretary and the
assistant secretaries with consent of the Senate. Retains present law with respect to the
duties, functions, and responsibilities of such offices.
Proposed law provides that the secretary, the undersecretary, the deputy secretary, and each
assistant secretary of the department in office on the effective date of proposed law shall
remain in office and continue to exercise his authority as provided by law until the lieutenant
governor takes action pursuant to proposed law to provide otherwise.
(Amends R.S. 36:101(A), 102(A), 103, 106(A), and 107(A))
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are additions.