2013 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 51 - Trade and Commerce
RS 51:955.4 - Duties of the council; strategic plan; subcommittees; staff; grants, contributions, and appropriations

§955.4. Duties of the council; strategic plan; subcommittees; staff; grants, contributions, and appropriations

A. The council shall have the following duties:

(1) To serve as the central broadband planning body for the state and to communicate and coordinate with state, regional, and local agencies and private entities in order to develop a coordinated statewide broadband access and usage policy, consistent with homeland security and emergency response needs, policies, and systems.

(2) To develop and recommend to the commissioner of administration and the governor a statewide plan to encourage provision of cost-effective broadband access and to make recommendations for increased usage, with a particular focus on rural and underserved areas.

(3) To recommend funding options and possible incentives for the private sector to make necessary investments to achieve the council's goals and objectives.

(4) To set specific targets and milestones to achieve the goals and objectives set forth in the plan of action provided for in Subsection B of this Section.

(5) To oversee the implementation and completion of the identified goals and objectives.

(6) To submit to the Senate and House Committees on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development, the House Committee on Commerce, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs, the House Committee on Appropriations, and the Senate Committee on Finance an annual report summarizing the council's activities during the previous year.

(7) To review and recommend changes in all laws, rules, programs, and policies of this state, or any agency or subdivision thereof, to further the goals of providing broadband access and usage.

B.(1) By March 1, 2005, the council shall submit to the commissioner of administration and the governor a strategic plan for compiling and maintaining relevant information, implementing strategies and action items and reaching the goal of providing all areas of the state with cost-effective broadband access and recommendations for increased usage.

(2) The strategic plan shall be reviewed for progress in implementation and updated and resubmitted to the governor every year.

C. If requested by the council, the state planning and development districts or other entities deemed appropriate by the council shall assist in the study of the information technology infrastructure and information technology needs of the rural areas within their particular regions. Such study may include an inventory of the existing information technology infrastructure; an inventory of information technology needs; an analysis of how such information technology needs affect industry and business recruitment, expansion, retention, and creation; and recommendations that address the information technology needs of each region.

D. To effectively carry out its duties and reach its goals, the council may form various subcommittees, which may consist of persons who are not council members but who possess expertise in various areas under study by the council. A member of the council shall chair such subcommittees. The chairman of such subcommittee shall select the members of his subcommittee.

E. With the consent of the executive director and the council and subject to available funds, the executive director may utilize the services of appropriate staff from the Department of Economic Development, the governor's Office of Rural Development, or the Board of Regents as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the council.

F. The executive director may apply for, accept, and utilize grants, contributions, and other funding in order to carry out the duties and goals set forth by the council.

Acts 2004, No. 167, §1; Acts 2005, No. 372, §1, eff. June 30, 2005; Acts 2012, No. 834, §11, eff. July 1, 2012.