This section requires flood-control planning reports and recommendations to be submitted on set legislative timelines, lets the committee hire a consultant, caps a flood study cost at $100,000, and authorizes DOTD to support incremental funding for rural and urban projects.
§90.5. Report to Joint Legislative Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works; recommendation of the Flood Control Project Evaluation Committee; flood protection needs study; incremental funding of rural and urban projects A. The final revision provided for in R.S. 38:90.2 by the Floodplain Evaluation and Management Commission shall be furnished to the committee and the Flood Control Project Evaluation Committee prior to the beginning of the 2022 Regular Session of the Legislature and every fifth year thereafter. However, that portion of the final revision encompassing the Amite River Basin shall be furnished to the committee and the Flood Control Project Evaluation Committee prior to the beginning of the 2020 Regular Session of the Legislature. Prior to each legislative session beginning with the 2023 Regular Session of the Legislature, the evaluation committee shall submit a recommended list of projects, including supporting data, to the committee. The committee shall conduct hearings to receive the revision of the flood information database called for in R.S. 38:90.2 and the recommendations from the evaluation committee. B. The committee may employ a consultant to assist in the formulation of a statewide masterplan for flood control. C. Pursuant to the development of a statewide master plan for flood control, the first priority in Fiscal Year 1990-91 for monies made available to the Statewide Flood-Control Program shall be used to conduct a statewide study to determine flood protection needs. The total cost of such study shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars. The study shall address problem areas with proposed projects of one million dollars or greater and shall identify problems, study alternatives, and propose solutions. D. The Department of Transportation and Development is authorized to provide for incremental funding of rural and urban projects by permanently suspending or eliminating the rule adopted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act relative to the Statewide Flood-Control Program, which requires that redistributed funds shall be sufficient to complete a project. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to affect the urban/rural distribution formula. Added by Acts 1982, No. 351, §1; Acts 1990, No. 929, §1; Acts 1992, No. 422, §1; Acts 2017, No. 360, §1.