[StBernard] Legislature Supports Task Force to Study State Planning Office

[Westley Annis]

Louisiana Legislature Supports Task Force to Study Comprehensive Office of State Planning 

BATON ROUGE, La. (June 20, 2007) - Today, Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) and Louisiana Speaks officials thanked members of the Louisiana Legislature for passing House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 229, a measure introduced by Representative Cheryl Gray in the House and sponsored by President Donald Hines in the Senate, which supports the establishment of a task force that will study and make recommendations for implementation of a comprehensive Office of State Planning. HCR 229 unanimously passed the House of Representatives on Monday, and cleared the Senate late yesterday afternoon. 

"Today we thank the Legislature for acting so quickly to implement one of the key recommendations from the Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan," said Donna Fraiche, Chair of the LRA's Long Term Planning Task Force. "Once established, this task force will work with citizens, local governments and state agencies to integrate planning for hurricane protection, land use, transportation, health care, education and economic development."

After 18 months of working with world-renowned planners, local experts and tens of thousands of Louisiana citizens, the LRA unveiled the Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan in May 2007. The plan, which serves as a roadmap for development over the next 50 years, proposes steps that will help Louisiana recover sustaibaly, grow smarter, and think regionally. 

One of more than 100 action items included in the plan calls for the creation of a coordinating and capacity-building entity at the state level which would provide a framework in which state, regional, and local governing bodies can coordinate to implement Louisiana's strategic vision for the future. 

Consistent with this recommendation, HCR 229 calls on the governor to establish a task force which includes representatives from the Governor's Office, the Division of Administration, the LRA, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the Police Jury Association, the Louisiana Municipal Association, the Louisiana Association of Planning and Development Districts, the Louisiana Chapter of the American Planning Association the Center for Planning Excellence, and Louisiana Speaks. 

The resolution also requests that the governor convene the task force for its first meeting prior to August 30, 2007. 

Click here to view complete resolution. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=442244 <http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=442244> ) 

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