2011 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 56 — Wildlife and fisheries
RS 56:901 — Coastal land stewardship authority

PART III. COASTAL LAND STEWARDSHIP AUTHORITY

§901. Coastal Land Stewardship Authority

A. There is hereby created the Coastal Land Stewardship Authority, hereinafter referred to as the "authority", within the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

B. The authority is established to provide for management and administration of certain immovable properties, servitudes, and easements acquired by the state in connection with the development, design, and implementation of coastal conservation, restoration and protection plans and projects in a manner determined appropriate by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and consistent with any agreements entered into between the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the federal government.

C. The authority shall be administered by a board of directors composed of nine members as follows, who shall serve without compensation or per diem:

(1) The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries or his designee.

(2) The public lands administrator or his designee.

(3) The executive assistant to the governor for coastal activities or his designee.

(4) The secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development or his designee.

(5) The secretary of the Department of Natural Resources or his designee.

(6) The secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism or his designee.

(7) The commissioner of agriculture and forestry or his designee.

(8) The chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment or his designee.

(9) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources or his designee.

D. The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shall serve as chairman of the board of directors of the authority. The board shall select from its members a secretary and treasurer.

E. Meetings of the board of directors of the authority shall be held at a time and place as determined by the chairman or when requested by a majority of the directors, provided that the board shall meet at least twice a year. Notices of all meetings of the board, together with an agenda of the business to come before the board, shall be provided to the public. The authority shall be subject to the Open Meetings Law (R.S. 42:11 et seq.) and the Public Records Law (R.S. 44:1 et seq.). A majority of the members of the board of directors of the authority shall constitute a quorum.

F. On behalf of the authority, the board of directors shall:

(1) Accept surface ownership and surface easements to facilitate the implementation of coastal protection and restoration projects.

(2) Accept donations of coastal wetlands and barrier islands.

(3) Manage or designate an appropriate state agency or contract with a nonprofit land conservation organization to manage such acquired property in a manner that is consistent with and that supports the state's master plan for coastal protection and restoration.

(4) Determine and provide for public and private uses of such property that are consistent with the conservation and sustainable use of such property, compatible with the state's master coastal protection and restoration plan, and maximize opportunities for public uses within those constraints. When a transfer of property contains a reservation of mineral rights, access to and use of the property for exercise of the reserved mineral rights shall be ensured by the authority to the full extent provided for in the act of transfer.

G. The directors of the authority shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to carry out the provisions of this Section. Notwithstanding any provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act to the contrary, the rules and regulations shall be submitted to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources for legislative oversight.

H. The directors of the authority shall submit to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources an annual report detailing the acquisitions received by the state pursuant to this Section.

Acts 2008, No. 548, §2.