[StBernard] Louisiana Speaks Update

[Westley Annis]

Key Recommendations from Regional Plan Accomplished this Session

This Session, the Louisiana Legislature acted upon several key
recommendations from the Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan that will increase
hurricane protection, lower insurance rates, and improve local, regional and
state planning initiatives to move Louisiana forward. 

Coastal Master Plan Approved
The first and most crucial step to restoring confidence in South Louisiana's
future is to provide physical safety from storms. Recognizing this, the
Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan called for the immediate adoption, funding,
and implementation of the state's master plan for coastal restoration and
hurricane protection. 

This session the Legislature unanimously approved resolutions to adopt the
Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority's master plan and
annual plan for the 2008 fiscal year. This measure clears the way for the
state to immediately begin implementing projects to rebuild and sustain
coastal marshes, restore barrier islands, and enhance hurricane protection
for key population centers. 

Louisiana's $510 million share of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) revenues
that will be generated over the next four years, and administered through
the federal Coastal Impact Assistance Program, will be used to fund the
first steps of implementation of this master plan. 

The Legislature's supplemental appropriations measure, House Bill (HB) 765 /
House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 10, also includes $200 million in state
funds that will be used to further accelerate implementation of the coastal
master plan. 

Insurance Rating Commission Abolished 
Because the accessibility and affordability of insurance is critical to
recovering businesses and homeowners, the Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan
also called for the Legislature to abolish the Insurance Rating Commission
as one part of a detailed strategy to mitigate risk and encourage more
private insurers to do business in Louisiana. Consistent with this
recommendation, the Legislature passed House Bill 960 by Rep. Karen Carter,
which abolishes the seven-member Louisiana Insurance Rating Commission as of
Jan. 1. Because Louisiana is the only state in the nation that still has
such a commission, this panel is largely seen as a deterrent that inhibits
the expansion of private insurance capacity in the state. HB 960 also
establishes a consumer advocate's office that will receive complaints and
represent consumers' interests. 

Support for Comprehensive Planning and Model Zoning Codes 
Because some of the challenges facing Louisiana extend beyond city and
parish lines, the regional plan also called for the creation of a
coordinating and capacity-building entity which would provide a framework
for state, regional, and local governing bodies to coordinate and implement
Louisiana's strategic vision for the future. 

Acting upon this recommendation, staff from the Louisiana Recovery Authority
and Louisiana Speaks worked with the Legislature to pass 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. 

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. 

The Legislature also passed a resolution, HCR 123, to recommend the
Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance to parishes and municipalities as a means of
promoting the development of affordable housing for low and moderate income
families. 

Background 
Louisiana Speaks recently concluded an extensive public outreach campaign to
engage citizens across South Louisiana in the development of a long term
recovery and rebuilding plan in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and
Rita. 

Over the last 18 months, more than 27,000 citizens weighed in on South
Louisiana's Regional Vision, including thousands of responses from residents
living in 32 different states, making Louisiana Speaks the largest and most
inclusive regional planning outreach campaign ever conducted in the United
States to date. The responses generated from this unprecedented,
privately-funded initiative formed the foundation of the Louisiana Speaks
Regional Plan. 

Released to the public and officially adopted in May 2007, the Louisiana
Speaks Regional Plan now serves as the state's roadmap for long term
recovery and growth over the next 50 years. To learn more, visit
www.louisianaspeaks.org <http://www.louisianaspeaks.org> .