The bill amends existing law regarding the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board by updating the composition of the board and establishing new responsibilities for drainage operations. Specifically, it changes the appointment process for a member of the board, allowing the chair of the Public Works, Sanitation and Environment Committee to appoint an individual with relevant expertise, rather than a civil engineer as previously required. Additionally, the bill enacts a new section that mandates quarterly meetings among various state and local agencies to develop a coordinated flood prevention plan, which will be presented annually to the New Orleans Delegation and city council starting in 2025.

Furthermore, the bill assigns the Sewerage and Water Board full responsibility for all drainage operations in New Orleans, requiring the city to transfer relevant employees and equipment to the board. It stipulates that the city must allocate annual funding to the board equivalent to what was used for drainage operations in fiscal year 2023, with any additional funding subject to city council approval. The bill also includes provisions for cooperative agreements between the Sewerage and Water Board and other agencies to facilitate the management of significant capital improvement projects and ensure the effective use of federal disaster resilience funds.