This bill amends Louisiana's Revised Statutes to modernize surveying and mapping standards, particularly by establishing and defining coordinate systems. It introduces new legal language to define terms such as "geodetic coordinate," "geodetic datum," and "state plane coordinate system," while updating references to current standards. The bill establishes an official state plane coordinate system based on the National Spatial Reference System, dividing the state into three projection zones: North Zone, South Zone, and Statewide Zone. It also highlights the role of the Louisiana State University Center for GeoInformatics in restoring service to Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS).

Additionally, the bill repeals outdated provisions related to the Louisiana Coordinate System of 1927 and 1983, which will be phased out with the introduction of the National Spatial Reference System of 2022. It retains definitions for these deprecated systems while clarifying that other geodetic reference networks will still be utilized. The bill designates the state Department of Transportation and Development as the agency responsible for administering these provisions and collecting relevant information. It also introduces new accuracy requirements for surveys and maps, mandates compliance with established standards, and updates control standards to align with the National Spatial Reference System, thereby streamlining the legal framework surrounding coordinate systems in Louisiana.

Statutes affected:
HB642 Original:
HB642 Engrossed:
HB642 Enrolled:
HB642 Act 626: