§506. Undersecretary; functions; office of management and finance

            A. There shall be an undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Development who shall be appointed by the governor. He shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary at a salary fixed by the governor, which salary shall not exceed the amount approved for such position by the legislature while in session, and shall receive an annual salary payable monthly out of funds appropriated therefor, and shall be allowed his actual necessary traveling expenses incurred in the discharge of his official duties. The undersecretary shall be directly responsible to and shall perform his functions under the supervision and control of the secretary.

            B. The undersecretary shall direct and be responsible for the functions of the office of management and finance within the Department of Transportation and Development. In such capacity he shall be responsible for accounting and budget control, procurement, data processing, management and program analysis, personnel management, and grants management for the department and all of its offices, including all agencies transferred to the Department of Transportation and Development, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Title. He shall employ, appoint, remove, assign, and promote such personnel as is necessary for the efficient administration of the office of management and finance and the performance of its powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities, in accordance with applicable civil service laws, rules, and regulations, and with policies and rules of the department, all subject to budgetary control and applicable laws. The undersecretary shall exercise all powers and authority granted to him in this Title subject to the overall direction and control of the secretary.

            C. The duties and functions of the office of management and finance and of the undersecretary shall be as provided in this Section, and these duties and functions shall not be subject to change by the secretary, except that the undersecretary shall perform such additional duties and functions as are assigned by the secretary.

            D. The executive budget, prepared in accordance with Part II of Chapter 1 of Subtitle I of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, and the general appropriation bill prepared for submission to the legislature beginning with the 1987 Regular Session of the Legislature, shall include a budget for each program in the department.

            E.(1) The undersecretary shall ensure that no direct or indirect costs associated with any full- or part-time employee of the department is funded in the capital budget. The capital budget shall exclusively include costs that are directly associated with construction, such as land acquisition and right-of-way costs, construction engineering, construction and reconstruction, resurfacing, rehabilitation, and restoration, system preservation, and installation or modification of traffic service facilities. The undersecretary shall itemize costs in the capital budget to maximize the legislature's and the public's understanding and awareness of the department's capital budget.

            (2) The operating budget shall clearly and concisely itemize costs associated with past and present employees of the department. All other costs in the operating budget shall be separated and itemized apart from those associated with past or present employees of the department.

            F. In the event of budgetary layoffs, the undersecretary shall consult with each assistant secretary of the department and, in consultation with the secretary, and the office of transformation, initiate and execute layoffs in a manner that minimizes impacts to services to the public.

            Acts 1988, No. 488, §1, eff. July 9, 1988; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 71, §1, eff. July 1, 1998; Acts 2025, No. 375, §1.