The original instrument was prepared by Tyler McCloud. The following digest,
which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was prepared by
Archana Cadge.
DIGEST
SB 414 Engrossed 2022 Regular Session Fred Mills
Proposed law establishes the Watershed Management Council to develop, implement, and manage
the Louisiana Watershed Initiative that is a statewide, comprehensive watershed planning process,
which fosters the collaborative management of flood risks by local, state, and regional governmental
entities.
Proposed law provides for legislative intent, purpose, and findings.
Proposed law creates the Watershed Management Council within the division of administration that
consists of the following members:
(1)The commissioner of administration or his designee, who serves as the chairman.
(2) A member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives from the membership
of the House Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works.
(3) A member appointed by the president of the Senate from the membership of the Senate
Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works.
(4) The secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development or his designee.
(5) The chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority or his designee.
(6) The executive director of the Louisiana office of community development or his designee.
(7)The director of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
or his designee.
(8) The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries or his designee.
(9) The secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality or his designee.
(10) The secretary of the Department of Natural Resources or his designee.
(11) The commissioner of agriculture and forestry or his designee.
(12) A member appointed by the president of the Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana from
the membership of the association. (13) The chairman of the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission or his designee.
(14)The executive director of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana or his designee.
(15) The executive director of the Louisiana Municipal Association or his designee.
Proposed law provides for the powers and duties of the council that include developing,
implementing, and managing the Louisiana Watershed Initiative and associated actions that
encourage collaboration on an interconnected statewide and watershed basis. Proposed law further
authorizes the council to create, update, and revise a statewide watershed plan, establish temporary
regional steering committees, approve permanent regional watershed coalitions, allocate funds to
these coalitions, and promulgate rules and regulations to implement proposed law.
Proposed law provides that nothing in proposed law shall interfere with the statutorily-granted
authority of any state agency or local government.
Proposed law provides for the approval of regional watershed coalitions by the council based upon
the recommendation of a regional steering committee, a publicly noticed public hearing, and public
comments.
Proposed law provides approved regional watershed coalitions are political subdivisions of the state
and are subject to the Open Meetings Law and the Public Records Law.
Proposed law authorizes regional watershed coalitions to develop regional watershed management
plans, facilitate watershed management, receive funds, provide assistance to local entities, conduct
outreach and education, enter cooperative endeavor agreements, facilitate meetings of local entities,
and propose flood risk reduction projects.
Present law creates the Floodplain Evaluation and Management Commission to revise the flood
information database. Present law provides for the methodology for evaluating flood-control
projects. Proposed law repeals present law.
Effective August 1, 2022.
(Amends R.S. 36:4(B)(1)(a); adds R.S. 49:220.41- 220.45; repeals R.S. 38:90.2 and 90.5)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways, and
Public Works to the original bill
1. Clarifies that the council is created within the division of administration.
2. Adds two members to the council. 3. Provides that local government authority is not superseded by proposed law.