RS 36:2

§2. Declaration of policy, purposes, and intent A. The legislature hereby recognizes and accepts the responsibility vested in it by the constitution of 1974, wherein in Article IV, Section 1 and Article XIV, Section 6, the legislature is mandated to effect reorganization of the executive branch of state government by allocation and/or reallocation of the functions, powers, duties, and responsibilities of all departments, offices, agencies, and instrumentalities of the executive branch of state government, except the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, into not more than twenty departments, and wherein it is further required that allocation of the functions, powers, and duties of all departments, offices, agencies, and other instrumentalities of the executive branch, except those functions, powers, duties, and responsibilities allocated by the constitution, shall be as provided by law, and wherein it is further provided that such allocation is insusceptible to veto by the governor. Recognizing that the constitution requires such allocation to become operative not later than December 31, 1977, and in order to provide for the orderly allocation and reallocation thus required to achieve the purposes of the constitution, the legislature enacts this Title for the purpose of designating the departments within the executive branch of the state government, creating and providing with respect to such departments and allocating to these departments the powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities of those boards, commissions, departments, offices, agencies, and other instrumentalities within the executive branch of the state government. The legislature hereby specifically reserves to itself the power and authority vested in it by the constitution to complete and make operative the reorganization of the executive branch of state government no later than December 31, 1977, through such additional legislative action insusceptible of gubernatorial veto as it finds necessary fully to carry out this constitutional mandate. B. To accomplish the purposes above set forth, specifically enumerated agencies are herein transferred into the departments created and provided for in this Title and other specifically enumerated agencies are abolished. The powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities of such agencies are herein transferred and/or merged and consolidated into such departments, all in the manner and to the extent provided in this Title. C. It is the public policy of this state and the purpose of this Title to create a structure for the executive branch of state government which is responsive to the needs of the people of this state and which is sufficiently flexible to meet changing human and natural conditions; to promote economy and efficiency in the operation and management of state government and to strengthen the executive capacity for effective, efficient, and economic administration at all levels; to improve the quality of the functions performed and the programs and services rendered by state government for the citizens of the state; to conserve and enhance the human and natural resources of the state; to provide that the responsibility of the respective departments for the implementation of programs and policies is clearly fixed and ascertainable; and to eliminate to the fullest practicable extent duplication of effort within the executive branch of state government in order to use wisely the funds of the state and more conveniently to meet the needs of the citizens of Louisiana which are supported by revenues derived from the people and from the natural resources belonging to them. D. It is the further intent of the legislature that the reorganization of the executive branch of state government shall be accomplished with the least possible disruption of governmental services and the least possible expenditure of public moneys and that all officials and employees participating in the effectuation of such reorganization shall at all times be charged with the responsibility for carrying out the intent herein stated. E. It is further the intent of the legislature that the statutory functions, powers, and duties of any agency existing before the effective date of this Title, which is not abolished by this Title, shall not be increased, decreased, or changed, unless such intent is specifically and clearly expressed in this Title or in legislation hereafter enacted. None of the constitutional or statutory powers, duties, functions, or responsibilities of the various constitutionally provided for higher education boards shall be increased, decreased, or changed hereby nor shall this Title be construed to provide that any such powers, duties, functions, or responsibilities of any such board are to be exercised by any other official or agency. F. This Title shall in no instance grant any new authority or expand the existing authority of any official or agency to regulate the activities of any person or business enterprise or regulate or interfere with the right to property, unless such authority existed on the effective date of this Title in an official or agency and the powers and duties of said official or agency were transferred to or merged into an official or agency established herein. Acts 1976, No. 513, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 83, §1, eff. June 22, 1977.