The bill, introduced by Senator Hensgens, amends various sections of Louisiana's Revised Statutes concerning the Department of Conservation and Energy. It redefines "gas" to include all natural gas and hydrocarbons, transfers authority from the "office of conservation" to the "department," and grants the secretary new powers, such as requiring uniform meters on pipelines and conducting inspections. The legislation also clarifies the secretary's authority regarding emergency declarations and establishes procedures for judicial review of administrative decisions. Significant deletions include the removal of references to the "office of conservation," reflecting a restructuring of the department's organization and responsibilities.

Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for evaluating and remediating environmental damage related to the department's jurisdiction, while ensuring that private contracts can impose stricter remediation obligations. It introduces a fishermen's gear compensation program and modifies minimum royalty requirements for mineral leases based on market conditions. The bill also mandates the secretary to certify fund balances for storage operators and allows third-party intervention in judicial review actions. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance the efficiency of the Department of Conservation and Energy in managing Louisiana's natural resources and ensuring compliance with environmental standards.

Statutes affected:
SB379 Original: 30:3(7), 30:4(C)(14), 30:5(C)(1), 30:1(A)(1), 30:1(A), 30:23(D)(2), 30:29(A), 30:73(1), 30:74(A)(3), 30:3(B), 30:2(A), 30:149(B), 30:150(B)(4), 30:209(2), 30:2(B), 30:3(A), 30:917(F), 30:1110(C)(1), 36:357(A), 36:358(B), 30:4(O)(3)
SB379 Engrossed: 36:357(A), 36:358(B), 30:4(O)(3)
SB379 Reengrossed: 36:358(B), 30:4(O)(3)
SB379 Enrolled: 30:3(7), 30:4(C)(14), 30:5(C)(1), 30:1(A)(1), 30:1(A), 30:12(A)(2), 30:1(A)(3), 30:23(D)(2), 30:29(A), 30:73(1), 30:74(A)(3), 30:3(B), 30:2(A), 30:5(A), 30:127(A), 30:3(B)(1), 30:153(A), 30:917(F), 30:1110(A)(2), 36:1(D), 36:358(B), 49:35(B), 30:4(O)(3)
SB379 Act : 30:3(7), 30:4(C)(14), 30:5(C)(1), 30:1(A)(1), 30:1(A), 30:12(A)(2), 30:1(A)(3), 30:23(D)(2), 30:29(A), 30:73(1), 30:74(A)(3), 30:3(B), 30:2(A), 30:5(A), 30:127(A), 30:3(B)(1), 30:153(A), 30:917(F), 30:1110(A)(2), 36:1(D), 36:358(B), 49:35(B), 30:4(O)(3)