§3137.  Master Plan of International Commerce and annual report

A.(1)(a)  The board shall, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Chapter, develop a Master Plan of International Commerce to position Louisiana as a leader in international commerce.  Such master plan shall include projects that are consistent with objectives of this Chapter.  Such master plan shall not include any toll road projects located in the parishes of East Baton Rouge or Livingston.

(b)  The board, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Chapter, including legislative approval, shall review, revise, and amend the master plan when necessary or, at a minimum, every year.

(2)  The annual report, at a minimum, shall include the following information:

(a)  Status of the office.

(b)  All projects approved by the board, including the priority and status of each project.

(c)  Project proposals submitted to the board for inclusion in the master plan and the timeline for such proposals.

(d)  Benchmarks to be used as measurement of the progress of the office.

(e)  Details as to the status of benchmarks defined in earlier reports, future planning efforts, and the status of other major elements detailed in the master plan.

(f)  A list of office staff and each person's responsibilities and a financial report of the recommended budget, provided in R.S. 51:3135(B)(16).

B.(1)(a)  Except as specified in Paragraph (4) of this Subsection, only projects included in the master plan shall be eligible for assistance, financial, technical, or otherwise, from the office or department.  However, nothing in this Subparagraph shall prohibit any party from receiving funding for projects directly through the legislative process set forth in this Subsection, provided such project proposal was first submitted to the board for evaluation and inclusion in the master plan.

(b)  Any person or entity may submit a project proposal to the board for consideration to be included in the master plan.  The board shall promptly consider the project and shall approve such projects for inclusion in the master plan only if they are consistent with the comprehensive strategy of the master plan.  Every project submitted to the board shall include a return on investment analysis in a form acceptable to the department.  The board shall place emphasis on the results of the return on investment analysis when determining whether to approve the project.

(c)  If, after consideration, the board approves the project, the board shall notify the person or entity of such approval and shall assist such person or entity as provided by this Chapter.

(d)  If, after consideration, the project is not approved by the board, the board shall notify the person or entity in writing of its decision.  In addition, the board shall submit a written evaluation, including the return on investment analysis, of such project to the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development, the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the division of administration. Nothing in this Subparagraph shall be construed to prohibit any person or entity from resubmitting a project proposal for consideration by the board.

(2)  Nothing in this Chapter shall preclude or restrict any of the organizations, entities, or persons provided in R.S. 51:3135(B)(2) or any private or nongovernmental party from independently developing and executing projects that are not approved by the board.  Such projects shall comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations but shall not be eligible to receive the assistance of the office or the department, except as provided in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection.

(3)  Any of the organizations, entities, or persons provided in R.S. 51:3135(B)(2) or any private or nongovernmental party may apply for funding for nonapproved projects in accordance with all applicable laws and procedures.  The legislature shall be provided the evaluation submitted by the board in accordance with Subparagraph (1)(d) of this Subsection when determining whether to fund such project or provide legislative incentives of any kind for the project or to the organization, entity, or person proposing such project.

(4)  The department may identify, plan, and develop projects including those relating to international commerce without submitting them to the board for approval as being consistent with the master plan.  Such projects may be developed by the department independent of the board.

C.(1)(a)  The master plan shall be submitted to the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs, meeting jointly, and the House Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works and the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works, meeting jointly, for approval on or before March first of each calendar year.

(b)  If either joint committee disapproves the master plan, it shall send the master plan back to the board together with a brief summary of the reasons for disapproval and may make recommendations concerning changes it deems necessary or appropriate to remedy any deficiencies in the plan.

(c)  After approval of the committees, the legislature may approve or disapprove the master plan by resolution adopted by a majority vote of the members of each house of the legislature.  If the legislature disapproves the master plan, it shall include in the resolution a brief summary of the reasons for disapproval and may make recommendations concerning any changes it deems necessary or appropriate to remedy any deficiencies in the master plan.

(d)  If the legislature approves the master plan, or if the legislature fails to take action on the master plan during the regular legislative session, the board shall implement the plan as submitted.

(e)  At any time subsequent to the adoption or implementation of the master plan in accordance with the procedure set forth in this Chapter, the board may amend or supplement the plan or add or delete projects.  No project shall be added or deleted unless and until the amendment to the master plan is approved as provided by this Subsection.  However, if such project is added or deleted while the legislature is not in session, the board shall submit the addition or deletion to the master plan to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget for approval.

(2)  Annual reports shall be submitted to the House Committee on Commerce, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs, the House Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works and the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works on or before March first of each calendar year.

Acts 2012, No. 687, §2, eff. June 7, 2012.