§49.  Division of local affairs or its successor; purpose, establishment, duties of director, submission of data, functions of division, administration of programs affecting community affairs and development, coordinating community developments, authorization for appropriations and state grants, report

A.  The legislature hereby finds that the rapid growth being experienced by many communities within the state of Louisiana presents new and significant problems for these political subdivisions in providing the necessary public services and in planning and developing desirable living and working areas; that the full and effective use of the many grant programs of the federal government affecting community development necessitates full cooperation and coordination of existing state and local government agencies; that the coordination of existing state activities which affect the communities of the state requires the establishment of machinery within the government of the state of Louisiana to administer new and existing programs to meet these problems; and that it is the urgent responsibility of the state to assist communities in meeting these problems in whatever way possible including technical and financial assistance.  It is therefore the purpose of this Section to establish a division of local affairs within the commission to provide for state financial and technical assistance to the communities of the state, and to otherwise assist in the community development in order to provide the health and living standards and conditions that the welfare of the people of the state of Louisiana require.

B.  Repealed by Acts 1976, No. 471, §3.  

C.  The commissioner of administration shall have the following additional powers and duties regarding the division of local affairs:

(1)  To supervise and administer the activities of the division and to advise the governor with respect to matters affecting community affairs generally and especially on the role of the state in these affairs.  

(2)  To delegate any of his functions, powers, and duties to such other officers and employees of the commission as he may choose and to authorize such successive redelegations of such functions, powers, and duties as he may deem desirable.  

(3)  To submit and adopt all necessary plans, enter into contracts, accept gifts, grants, and federal funds, prepare and submit budgets, make rules and regulations, and do all things necessary and proper to carry out the provisions of this Section.  

D.  All state agencies or political subdivisions of this state shall provide such assistance and data to the division of local affairs as is needed to carry out the functions, powers and duties of the division.  

E.  The division of local affairs shall have the following functions and responsibilities:

(1)  To prepare and adopt a work program each year for the division of local affairs;

(2)  To cooperate with and provide technical assistance to parish, municipal and regional planning commissions, zoning commissions, parks or recreation boards, community development groups, community action agencies, and similar agencies created for the purposes of aiding and encouraging an orderly, productive and coordinated development of the state;

(3)  To assist the governor in coordinating the activities of state agencies which have an impact on the solution of community development problems and the implementation of community plans, and to channel airport redevelopment funds through the state to political subdivisions;

(4)  To encourage and, when requested, assist the efforts of local governments to develop mutual and cooperative solutions to their common problems;

(5)  To assist and cooperate with communities in establishing and organizing neighborhood information centers and referral services;

(6)  To study existing legal provisions that affect the structure and financing of local government and those state activities which involve significant relations with local government units; and recommend to the governor and the legislature such changes in these provisions and activities as may seem necessary to strengthen local government;

(7)  To serve as a clearinghouse for information, data, and other materials which may be helpful or necessary to local governments to discharge their responsibilities; the clearinghouse should also provide information on available federal and state financial and technical assistance;

(8)  To carry out continuing studies and analyses of the problems faced by communities within the state and develop such recommendations for administrative or legislative action as appear necessary; in carrying out such studies and analyses, particular attention should be paid to the problems of metropolitan, suburban and other areas in which economic and population factors are rapidly changing;

(9)  To assist and cooperate with other state agencies and officials, with official organizations of elected officials in the state, with local governments and officials, and with federal agencies and officials, in carrying out the functions and duties of the division;

(10)  To consult with private groups and individuals, and if the director deems it desirable, hold public hearings to obtain information for the purpose of carrying out this section;

(11)  To develop and test, model or demonstration programs and projects, contract to administer certain functions or services within a community of the state for such purposes, or to otherwise provide a program of practical research in the solution of community problems.  

F.(1)  The division of administration shall be responsible for determining and coordinating the state's role in federal grant programs applicable to the following community affairs and development programs or any future community affairs programs which may be enacted by Congress:

(a)  Projects and programs for the planning and carrying out of the acquisition, use, and development of land for open space and recreational purposes;

(b)  Programs to develop decent, safe, and sanitary housing to serve the needs of all citizens of the community including low-rent and middle-income housing constructed by public authorities or nonprofit groups, and other publicly assisted housing activities;

(c)  Urban renewal and redevelopment activities to rebuild slum areas including the provision or supervision of relocation services for individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to assure that such displaced are provided with comprehensive relocation and financial assistance;

(d)  Channeling of Federal Airport Aid;

(e)  Programs and projects to aid in the development, financing, and staffing of neighborhood information and service centers.  

(2)  Initiate study on state plans insuring local governments and municipalities shall have input into all state plans.  The study shall show who is in charge of all state plans and shall provide a list of the respective agencies and committees.  The study shall define the different types of state plans being prepared.  The study shall further list the elements of each.  

G.  The successful discharge of this section demands that all activities and programs of state agencies which have an impact on community affairs be fully coordinated.  State agencies shall cooperate fully with the director and governor in fulfilling this section.  The commission may establish such coordination, advisory, or other machinery as they may find necessary to carry out this section and they may issue such rules and regulations as they believe necessary and desirable to carry out the provisions of this section.

H.  Funds may be appropriated to carry out this section including monies to enable the director to assist communities in meeting the non-federal share of any federal community development programs.  

I.  The commission shall serve in an advisory capacity to the director and the division on all matters related to the implementation of this Section.

Added by Acts 1970, No. 407, §1.  Amended by Acts 1976, No. 471, §2; Acts 1986, No. 860, §1; Acts 1988, No. 625, §5.