This bill amends Louisiana's Revised Statutes to modernize surveying and mapping standards, particularly by establishing and defining new coordinate systems. It introduces legal definitions for terms such as "geodetic coordinate," "geodetic datum," and "state plane coordinate system," while replacing the outdated Louisiana Coordinate Systems of 1927 and 1983 with the new Louisiana Plane Coordinate System. The state will be divided into North, South, and Statewide Zones to facilitate the implementation of this new system. Additionally, the bill mandates collaboration with the Louisiana State University Center for GeoInformatics to restore service to Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) and allows for the use of alternative datums or geodetic reference networks as needed.

The bill also clarifies accuracy requirements for surveys and maps, ensuring compliance with the Standards of Practice for Boundary Surveys and the United States National Map Accuracy Standards. It designates the state Department of Transportation and Development as the agency responsible for administering these provisions. Significant deletions from current law include the removal of references to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 and previous vertical control standards, which are replaced with updated references to the National Spatial Reference System. The bill also repeals an existing statute, R.S. 50:11, indicating a comprehensive update to the legal framework governing coordinate systems in Louisiana.

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