2011 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 49 — State administration
RS 49:214.6.7 — Barrier islands, shoreline stabilization, and preservation

§214.6.7. Barrier islands, shoreline stabilization, and preservation

A. The executive director of the Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration shall establish a barrier islands and shorelines stabilization and preservation program. As part of the barrier islands and shorelines program, the office shall require that all projects subject to public bid include appropriate dredges for use to stabilize and preserve barrier islands and shorelines. In addition, the office shall require that all barrier island stabilization and preservation projects mandate a minimum dune height of eight feet with vegetation where appropriate.

B. By September first each year, the governing authority of each parish which has barrier islands and shorelines shall submit to the office and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority a list of barrier islands and shorelines stabilization and preservation projects requested for that parish. The office shall review the projects submitted and by December first of each year shall issue a list which prioritizes those requests.

C. The priority list shall be promulgated and shall be subject to legislative oversight by the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources under the Administrative Procedure Act. Such oversight shall occur prior to March first each year.

D. Funding for the barrier islands and shorelines stabilization and preservation projects shall be available from the Barrier Island Stabilization and Preservation Fund. In the event funding from the Barrier Island Stabilization and Preservation Fund is not appropriated in a given year, the barrier islands and shorelines stabilization and preservation program shall be suspended until funds are appropriated for the program.

E.(1) There is hereby created, as a special fund in the state treasury, the Barrier Island Stabilization and Preservation Fund, hereinafter referred to as the "Barrier Island fund". The source of monies in the fund shall be appropriations, donations, grants, and other monies which may become available for the purposes of the fund.

(2) The monies in the fund shall be subject to appropriation and may be used only as provided in this Section. The monies in the fund shall be invested by the treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund, and interest earnings shall be deposited in and credited to the fund. All unexpended or unencumbered monies remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain to the credit of the fund.

(3) Monies appropriated from the fund shall be used exclusively by the Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration to support the barrier island stabilization and preservation program.

F. The Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration shall annually submit a barrier island status report to the legislature. The report shall indicate the condition of all barrier islands, provide the status of all barrier island stabilization and preservation projects under construction, and shall outline future plans for restoration and maintenance of the barrier islands and coastal passes. The annual report shall be submitted to each member of the legislature during the regular session of the legislature.

Acts 2009, No. 523, §3, eff. July 10, 2009.