§1934. Program eligibility; application process

            A.(1) State agencies, political subdivisions of the state, including local governing authorities, and nongovernmental organizations working in coordination with public agencies may apply to the program for funding.

            (2) The program shall be strictly voluntary and in no way invokes eminent domain.

            B. The following types of projects may be eligible for funding:

            (1) Land conservation of important natural areas, including fish and wildlife habitat.

            (2) Water quality projects related to land conservation or land management, including those lands that protect drinking water supplies.

            (3) Working land, farms, and forested land.

            (4) Recreational properties related to important natural areas and public use.

            (5) Historic properties adjacent to or integral to habitat restoration or enhancement.

            C. Application forms as well as information about application requirements shall be made available online.

            D. Submitted applications shall be evaluated by the technical advisory board and selected by the project selection board using defined criteria and scoring based on a clear, defensible, science-based process.

            E. The department shall, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this program. Such rules shall include procedures for applying to the program and detailed criteria and scoring to be used by the boards in their evaluation and selection of projects for funding.

            Acts 2022, No. 714, §2, eff. June 18, 2022.

            NOTE: Pursuant to R.S. 56:1936, the Louisiana Outdoors Forever Program terminates July 1, 2033.