§359. Transfer of agencies and functions to Department of Conservation and Energy

            A. The following agencies are transferred to the Department of Conservation and Energy and shall exercise and perform their powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities as provided by law:

            (1) Oyster Lease Damage Evaluation Board (R.S. 56:700.10 et seq.).

            (2) Advisory committee for the regulation and control of water well drillers (R.S. 38:3098 et seq.).

            (3) Water Management Advisory Task Force (R.S. 38:3097.7).

            B. The following agencies are transferred to the Department of Conservation and Energy and shall exercise and perform their powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 36:802:

            (1) State Department of Conservation (Article V, Section 18 and Article VI, Section 1(C) of the 1921 Constitution of Louisiana made statutory by Article XIV, Section 16(A)(2) and (3) of the 1974 Constitution of Louisiana; Part I of Chapter 1 of Subtitle I of Title 30 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 and other provisions of Title 30 that directly apply to the department). The secretary shall be authorized to employ, appoint, remove, assign, and promote personnel as is necessary for the efficient administration required in making these decisions in accordance with applicable civil service laws, rules, and regulations, and with policies and rules, subject to budgetary control of the Department of Conservation and Energy and applicable laws.

            (2) State Mineral and Energy Board (R.S. 30:121 et seq.), except the undersecretary of the Department of Conservation and Energy or his designee shall be an ex officio member of the State Mineral and Energy Board. The State Mineral and Energy Board shall retain the authority to lease for development and production of minerals, oil, and gas any lands belonging to the state, or the title to which is in the public, including road beds, water bottoms, and land adjudicated to the state at tax sale. The State Mineral and Energy Board shall retain supervision of all mineral leases granted by the state, and it shall retain general authority to take action for and on behalf of and to protect the interests of the state in accordance with the provisions of Title 30 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and applicable laws.

            (3) Water Resources Commission (R.S. 38:3097.1 et seq.), except that the commission's powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities are in the nature of policymaking and adjudication. The commission shall continue to exercise all advising powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities provided by law.

            (4) Office of the oil spill coordinator (R.S. 30:2451 et seq.).

            C. The Oilfield Site Restoration Commission (R.S. 30:80 et seq.) is placed within the Department of Conservation and Energy and shall perform its powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 36:901 et seq.

            D. The Capital Area Groundwater Conservation District (R.S. 38:3071 et seq.) is transferred to the Department of Conservation and Energy and shall perform its powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 36:851 et seq.

            Acts 1976, No. 513, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 83, §1, eff. June 22, 1977; Acts 1979, No. 449, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1980; Acts 1981, No. 873, §1, eff. Sept. 11, 1981; Acts 1983, No. 97, §7, eff. Feb. 1, 1984; Acts 1983, No. 543, §2; Acts 1983, No. 705, §7, eff. Sept. 1, 1983; Acts 1984, No. 795, §2, eff. July 13, 1984; Acts 1984, No. 514, §3, eff. July 6, 1984; Acts 1986, No. 581, §3, eff. July 2, 1986; Acts 1988, No. 630, §2; Acts 1988, No. 724, §3, eff. July 18, 1988; Acts 1989, No. 282, §6, eff. June 27, 1989; Acts 1992, No. 1067, §2; Acts 1993, No. 404, §3; Acts 1997, No. 181, §2; Acts 1997, No. 1116, §2; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 3, §2, eff. April 23, 1998; Acts 2003, No. 49, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2006, No. 713, §4, eff. July 1, 2006; Acts 2009, No. 196, §4, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 861, §17; Acts 2011, No. 301, §1; Acts 2012, No. 471, §1; Acts 2012, No. 811, §§11, 17, eff. July 1, 2012; Acts 2018, No. 570, §5, eff. July 1, 2018; Acts 2022, No. 623, §4, eff. July 1, 2022; Acts 2023, No. 150, §10, eff. Jan. 10, 2024; Acts 2024, No. 727, §1, eff. July 1, 2024; Acts 2025, No. 458, §4, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.