§351.1. Natural Resources Commission; creation; composition; purposes and functions

            A. The Natural Resources Commission is hereby reconstituted within the Department of Conservation and Energy. The commission shall not have authority to grant or deny permits, to take enforcement action, or to take other action which has traditionally been within the sole jurisdiction of the department.

            B. The Natural Resources Commission shall be composed of the following individuals, who shall not have the ability to serve by proxy or designee:

            (1) The secretary of the Department of Conservation and Energy.

            (2) The secretary of Louisiana Economic Development.

            (3) The secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality.

            (4) The secretary of the Department of Revenue.

            (5) The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

            (6) The executive secretary of the Louisiana Public Service Commission.

            (7) One individual, appointed by the governor, who shall represent statewide flood control interests. This individual shall be one of the following:

            (a) The secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development.

            (b) The executive director of the Coordinated Use of Resources for Recreation, Economy, Navigation, and Transportation Authority.

            (c) The executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

            (d) The chief resilience officer.

            C. The department shall staff the commission and may engage the legislative auditor for reports requested by legislature or commission. The commission shall meet four times per year, preferably quarterly. The commission will facilitate strategic alignment and coordination amongst members. The commission shall coordinate with the legislative auditor to provide investigative oversight to the commission.

            D. The commission shall:

            (1) Serve as primary coordination body for water management planning, statewide flood protection, and develop a process for its centralization striving for uniformity.

            (2) Develop a process in which agencies coordinate intergovernmental responses.

            (3) Develop a process in responding to legislative study requests, including their prioritization.

            (4) Engage legislative auditor for staffing on matters related to investigation, reporting, and review of the executive branch.

            (5) Develop a process to identify, review, receive, clarify and act on matters of agency overlap, including independent agencies and political subdivisions.

            E. The commission shall meet on the first Wednesday of March, June, September, and December of each year. In the event of a state declared emergency or holiday, the meeting shall be held on the next working day. The date may be changed by unanimous agreement of the members in writing.

            F. The legislature may establish advisory committees to advise the Natural Resources Commission on any matter within the jurisdiction of the commission. Advisory committees shall be established by resolution which, at a minimum, provides for the purpose of the advisory committee, either the membership of the committee or how the members will be appointed, and such other matters as the legislature deems appropriate. An advisory committee established pursuant to this Subsection shall terminate one year after the effective date of the resolution creating it unless a different term is expressly provided in the resolution or the advisory committee is reauthorized by subsequent resolution.

            Acts 2025, No. 458, §4, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.