2022 Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 45 BY SENATORS MCMATH, BARROW, BOUDREAUX, BOUIE, CARTER, CATHEY, CLOUD, FESI, FIELDS, HEWITT, MILLIGAN, ROBERT MILLS, MIZELL, MORRIS, PEACOCK, POPE, PRICE, REESE, STINE AND WOMACK A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION To create and provide for the Task Force on Administration of State Transportation and Development Services to study national best practice models for the efficient and effective administration of state transportation departments. WHEREAS, Louisiana ranks in the top ten states with inadequate infrastructure; and WHEREAS, the state holds the position of forty-ninth for urban interstate conditions; and WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana is placed forty-fifth for the number of structurally deficient bridges; and WHEREAS, the capital city of Baton Rouge was designated as the fourth worst in the United States behind Los Angeles, New York, and Miami; and WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation and Development's mission is to plan, design, build, and sustain a safe and reliable multi-modal transportation and infrastructure system that enhances mobility and economic opportunity; and WHEREAS, the department is the only department of transportation that includes the term "development" which includes public works; and WHEREAS, public works also makes the department responsible for engineering and technical assistance to eight noncoastal levee districts and provides oversight for levee inspection activities; and WHEREAS, the department is also given statewide responsibility to provide for the effective administration and implementation of public works for flood control, dam safety, reservoir development, and projects related to controlling, developing, conserving, and protecting Louisiana's vast water resources; and Page 1 of 3 SCR NO. 45 ENROLLED WHEREAS, there is an inherent value in studying agency structure, models of highway infrastructure, and efficiency of multi-modal transportation of other states to determine whether there is an alternate framework for the state of Louisiana that will improve efficiency in traffic, highway infrastructure, and expenditures of funds related to transportation. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby establish and provide for the Task Force on Administration of State Transportation and Development Services to study best practices used by other states relative to traffic, highway infrastructure, and planning, including bridges, integrating, and working with local governmental roads and systems to provide for better growth and movement throughout the state, and to propose recommendations, together with specific proposals for legislation, by written report to the legislature and to the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library as required by R.S. 24:771 and 772, no later than February 1, 2023. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force should include consideration of reorganization of the Department of Transportation and Development, and to provide for efficient administration and distribution of taxpayer funds for state infrastructure and development. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall consist of the following members: (1) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works, who shall serve as the chairman of the task force. (2) Three senate members appointed by the chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works. (3) The chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works, who shall serve as the vice chairman of the task force. (4) Three house members appointed by the chair of the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that names of designees to the task force shall be submitted to the staff of the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works by August 1, 2022. Page 2 of 3 SCR NO. 45 ENROLLED BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the task force shall convene for its first meeting no later than September 1, 2022, at the call of chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highway and Public Works. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force shall serve without compensation, except per diem or expenses reimbursement to which they may be individually entitled. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the total membership shall constitute a quorum of the task force, and any official action taken by the task force shall require an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum present and voting. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force may conduct such meetings at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this Resolution. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall make a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, to the legislature on or before February 1, 2023. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall terminate on the date of the submission of its report or April 10, 2023, whichever occurs first. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the chair of Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works and the chair of House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Page 3 of 3