Bill > HB297

This bill amends Louisiana law to make two primary changes for the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism (CRT). First, it removes the requirement that a public entity must post notice of a public emergency within ten days in its official journal, allowing more flexibility in emergency reporting. Second, the bill establishes a new provision that allows CRT to undertake minor repairs, renovations, construction, or land purchases up to $1 million (adjusted annually for inflation) without including these projects in the capital outlay budget, subject to the lieutenant governor's approval. The bill creates a pilot program for this expanded contract limit that will run until August 1, 2029, during which CRT must submit annual reports to legislative committees detailing the projects undertaken, contract amounts, cost savings, time savings, and additional benefits. The department is also prohibited from incurring long-term debt for these projects, though short-term loans up to one year are permitted under specific conditions. This legislation aims to provide CRT with more operational flexibility and streamline its project approval process for smaller-scale improvements.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=25rs&b=HB297&sbi=y