§1105. Hearings; notice; public records

            A. All public hearings under this Chapter shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 30:6. In addition to the requirements of R.S. 30:6, any notice required pursuant to this Chapter shall also be provided to the governing authority of any affected parish. Notice may be made by electronic mail to the parish president, police jury president, or mayor-president, depending on the form of parish government.

            B. All rules, regulations, and orders made by the commissioner under this Chapter shall be in writing and shall be entered in full by him in a book kept for that purpose. This book shall be a public record and shall be open for inspection at all times during reasonable office hours and shall be available on the Department of Conservation and Energy website. A copy of a rule, regulation, or order certified by the commissioner shall be received in evidence in all courts of this state with the same effect as the original.

            C. Any interested person has the right to have the commissioner call a hearing for the purpose of taking action in respect to a matter within the jurisdiction of the commissioner as provided in this Section by making a request therefor in writing and paying the hearing fee set by the commissioner, as provided by law for hearing conducted pursuant to R.S. 30:6. Upon receiving the request and payment of the required fees the commissioner shall promptly call a hearing. After the hearing and with all convenient speed and within thirty days after the conclusion of the hearing, the commissioner shall take whatever action he deems appropriate with regard to the subject matter.

            D. The commissioner shall give substantial consideration to local government comments, oral or written, when determining the appropriate course of action to take in any matter requiring a public comment period or public hearing pursuant to this Chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this Chapter.

            Acts 2009, No. 517, §2; Acts 2023, No. 150, §5, eff. Jan. 10, 2024; Acts 2023, No. 378, §1, eff. June 14, 2023; Acts 2025, No. 407, §1, eff. June 20, 2025; Acts 2025, No. 414, §1.