Bill > HB605

This bill establishes a new law that allows the Department of Energy and Natural Resources (EN) to charge an expedited processing fee for applicants seeking faster review of their requests. The fee will be calculated based on the direct costs incurred by the department, including overtime hours worked by employees at a rate up to 1.5 times their standard hourly wage. Additionally, the department can assess an administrative surcharge of up to 20% of the total overtime cost, with a minimum charge of $500. The bill specifies that the fee does not cover additional mailing or shipping costs beyond the department's normal service level, which would be the responsibility of the applicant. Importantly, the expedited processing fee will be waived if the need for expedited review is solely due to an error or delay caused by the department itself. This legislation aims to provide a mechanism for recovering the costs associated with expediting administrative processes while also protecting applicants from fees resulting from departmental mistakes.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=25rs&b=HB605&sbi=y