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For General Severance Tax Constitutional
Amendment #2 Informative Links

PJAL ANNOUNCES REGION MEETING SCHEDULE
click here
Want to learn more about the LAMP Annual
Meeting?

In case you missed the DEQ Webinar...

for the Power Point Presentation!
Click Here to get
Ethics Financial Disclosure Forms
Financial
Disclosure Law
click
here.
2010
Election Dates
click here
FRS Litigation
Proposed
Constitutional Amendments in 2010
Louisiana Open Meetings Law
click for
PDF
version
File Local Sales Taxes On-line
Missed the PJAL
Orientation Conference? View
the materials on-line,
click
here.


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The PJAL offices will be closed on Monday in observance of Labor Day |
NACo Task Force
Press Release NACo The Voice of America's Counties www.naco.org
--Resolution Urging President Obama to Reduce the Six-Month Moratorium on Deep-Water Drilling in the Gulf to No More than Thirty Days--
Issue: Deep-water drilling in the Gulf.
Adopted Policy: NACo urges President Obama to lift the six-month moratorium on deep-water drilling, and instead conduct a thorough review of all deep-water drilling facilities, implement and enforce strict safety measures to ensure compliance with safety mandates.
Background: In the aftermath of the British Petroleum (BP) Oil Spill, on May 27,2010, the Obama Administration ordered a six month moratorium on existing Gulf of Mexico deep-water drilling, which will result in the immediate suspension of operations at thirty-three (33) rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. The moratorium on offshore deep-water drilling will cause significant harm to the gulf-coast energy service industry as well as to the many coastal communities already suffering tremendously from the environmental and economic impacts of the BP oil spill.
An estimated thirty-three per cent (33%) of the nation's domestic oil comes from the Gulf of Mexico. Eighty percent (80%) of the oil and fort-five per cent (45%) of the natural gas coming out of the Gulf of Mexico is from deep-water drilling operations in more than 1,000 feet of water.
Southern coastal communities are home to businesses, from welders and divers to caterers and drivers that support the offshore oil and gas industry, with 1 in 3 jobs being related to the industry. It is estimated that each exploration and production job represents four supporting jobs in and around the region, thus a six-month moratorium will result in the loss of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in wages.
Coastal communities will begin experiencing severe and irreversible economic impacts within thirty (30) days of the moratorium. Idle drilling rigs in the Gulf will likely be contracted overseas for work in other locations such as Africa and Brazil, and may not return to the Gulf of Mexico for several years, greatly extending the BP Oil Spill induced economic crisis for our state.
Several of the safety recommendations set forth in the Department of Interior's May 27,2010 Increased Safety Measures for Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf can be implemented immediately within the next thirty (30) days including MMS verification of the safety of the (1) MMS certification of the safety of the BOP stacks, (2) MMS verification of BOP equipment compatibility (3) development and implementation of new inspection procedures and reporting requirements, (4) establishment of new fluid displacement procedures, and (5) verification of compliance with existing regulations and National Safety Alert requirements.
Other measures set forth in the Department of Interior's May 27,2010 Increased Safety Measures for Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf such as those requiring emergency rule making along with the National Commission on the BP Deep-water Horizon Spill and Offshore Drilling investigation can be conducted simultaneously with the continued operations of offshore deep-water drilling. MMS could, and
should, maintain a full-time presence on all ongoing deep-water drilling locations, with a 7-10 day rotation schedule and enforce that strict compliance with API standards be maintained on all equipment used in well
construction.
Any failure in compliance should mandate immediate closure of the offending rig, rather a complete shut
down of all deep-water drilling operations which would unjustly punish those companies that have provided this country's energy needs while operating safely and in compliance with all regulations, as well as those
coastal communities already facing an economic crisis as a result of this being the most challenging economic periods in decades coupled with the devastating economic impacts of the BP oil spill on the fishing, tourism and ancillary industries.
Fiscal/Urban/Rural Impact: Suspension of deep-water drilling operations will result in at least 33 deepwater drilling rigs being idled for six months or longer. An average of two (2) supply boats works each rig per day with rates of$15,000 - $30,000/boat. Suspension of drilling activity will result in a nearly $1 million loss per day in just supply boat rental income. Each drilling rig averages 180-280 employees for each two-week shift, and each job supports four other jobs in our local communities. Thus, the suspension of drilling activity will result in a loss of tens of thousands of American jobs over the next 18 months.
Adopted July 20, 2010
NACo Task Force
Parish Leaders selected to National Oil Spill Task Force
Jefferson Parish Council Chairman John Young and Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph will serve on the NACo (National Association of Counties) Oil Spill Task Force. NACo National President Glen Whitley of Texas made the final selection's today and announced it's purpose, "It is our goal to assist you in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill cleanup, recovery and restoration process by facilitating information-sharing and problem-solving across the states and advocating for your interests in Washington, D.C." NACo has already passed a resolution in support of the Police Jury Association's request to lift the Federal Moratorium.
The Task Force will include parish/county leaders from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The Task Force will focus on:
Establishment of a dedicated federal funding program to reimburse counties and parishes
for cleanup expenses and lost revenue;
Streamlining of the local government claims submission and reimbursement process;
Support for lifting the moratorium on deep water drilling to mitigate economic losses in the region; and
Support for additional resources to address the mental health needs of Gulf Coast residents.
Press Release - National Association of Counties Supports Limiting Drilling Moratorium to 30 Days
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Act 850 (HB 1307)
Open Meetings Law |
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Act 850 (HB 1307) of the 2010 Regular Session amended the Open Meetings Law, but not dramatically. The bill sought to require a public comment period at each agenda item, similar to the law applicable to the School Boards (RS 42:5.1).
All Act 850 requires is that the previously mandatory public comment period be conducted "at any point in the meeting prior to action on an agenda item". If you currently hold your public comment period in the beginning of your meeting you are already in compliance with the new law. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the
PJAL office at 1-888-551-2835.
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CULVERT BILL SIGNED INTO LAW AS ACT 719 |
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HB 941 has been signed into law as Act 719 of the 2010 Regular Session. Act 719. The Act neither expands nor contracts authority under existing law. It does take the existing statements of law and puts them in the newly enacted RS 33:4883 so that the law is more easily located and understood. In short the law on culverts is as follows:
*1. Culverts for the general benefit of parish drainage may be installed at the expense of the parish or municipality;
*2. Culverts for the primary benefit of a private property owner must be paid for by the private property owner;
*3. A parish or municipality may regulate culverts that impact the overall drainage system; and
*4. A parish or municipality may require that private culverts be purchased from, or even installed by the public entity, but the private property owner must pay 100% of the costs.
To view and print a copy of Act 719, click here.
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2010 REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION OVER
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The PJAL had a very successful 2010 Regular Session. The PJAL was able to pass the bills it strongly favored while defeating those that it most opposed. There were some compromises along the way, but the PJAL held firm and only agreed to a compromise amendment if it addressed our primary concerns with the underlying legislation. No significant legislation was passed over the objection of the PJAL. This success is a result of our members remaining in contact with their Legislators and the diligence of the PJAL staff in persistently communicating your concerns...click to read more.
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Attorney General Issues IMPORTANT Opinion on the
Parish Transportation Fund
click to read |
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AT&T Moving
Into Cable Business
AT&T is beginning to make moves under the Consumer Choice for Television Act (Act 433 of the 2008 RS) This Act allows for new providers of cable television services to operate within local government rights-of-way WITHOUT entering into a cable franchise agreement with the local government. The local government does have some rights under the Act, specifically, the authority to levy a "franchise fee" of up to 5%, require that the operator meet certain obligations for Public, Educational & Government channels, and the local government can enforce modest permitting rules. By clicking each item you will find a sample ordinance to assist your parish in addressing these concerns.
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UNIFORM BID FORM Rule Promulgation Notice |
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The Division of Administration has issued the following notice for the promulgation of the Uniform Bid Form. The form is slightly different that the final draft that was issued a few weeks ago. Click here to review the Notice. If you have comments please forward them to Dan Garrett at the PJAL or contact the Office of Facility Planning in the Division of Administration. |
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| LOCAL SALES TAX PORTAL UP AND RUNNING AT |
| www.parishe-file.com |
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A provision of Act 73 of the 2003 Regular Session has finally been made operational. Act 73 enacted the Uniform Local Sales Tax Code or UTC. It created uniformity between most areas of State and local sales and use tax law. It also addressed an issue that business groups had been urging for years. Businesses had complained that doing business in multiple parishes meant keeping track of various local sales and use tax laws and rates and learning how to file each parishes sales and use tax form. The UTC made terminology uniform and required the LA Dept. of Revenue to create a uniform sales and use tax reporting form and a web-based portal to allow a simple single point of contact for business to file tax forms and remit both State and multiple local sales and use tax collections. The terminology has been in place since the Act took effect and the form was created shortly thereafter. Now the portal has been put into operation. Businesses can now login at www.parishe-file.com and file all needed forms, electronically, and arrange for the electronic transfer of the funds, thus eliminating all of the problems the business community has raised about Louisiana's having local collection of local sales and use taxes. This portal is the final piece of the UTC and eliminates all of the reasons for the Legislature to consider State-central collection of local sales and use taxes.
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POLICE
JURY
MANUAL,
EIGHTH
EDITION |
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The
Eighth
Edition
of the
Police
Jury
Manual
is ready
to be
ordered.
The
Eighth
Edition
is
updated
through
the 2007
Legislative
session
and is
available
in both
a
printed
version
and a CD
version.
The CD
version
includes
links to
the
statutes
and
attorney
general's
opinions
cited.
When
viewing
the
manual
on a
computer
with
internet
access,
you can
just
click on
the
citation
and you
will be
taken
directly
to the
law or
opinion
cited.
This is
just one
one
innovation
by the
PJAL to
better
serve
parish
government.
Contact
Brenda
Cooks
about
ordering.
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Link to
other
Census
info |
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