Senate Bill No. 469 amends the Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law to improve the management of excavation and demolition activities, particularly for broadband development projects funded by the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. The bill introduces new definitions such as "clear or no conflict," "locate request," and "ticket," which aim to enhance communication between excavators and utility operators. It requires excavators to provide at least 30 days' advance notice to operators of underground facilities before starting work on BEAD-funded projects, thereby promoting better coordination and safety. Additionally, the bill mandates that at least one person on-site must have completed annual training from the regional notification center, with certain exemptions, and empowers law enforcement to halt excavation activities if violations are suspected.

The legislation also establishes specific procedures for excavation related to BEAD projects, including the requirement for excavators and operators to notify all relevant parties through a regional notification center and to attempt to reach a written coordination agreement before proceeding with excavation. If no agreement is reached, work can continue without delay. The bill requires that any agreements be electronically uploaded to the regional notification center and made accessible at the excavation site. It modifies existing provisions regarding the participation of underground utility operators in the notification center, removing the exemption for municipalities and parish governments, and enhances the response requirements for facility operators. The law grants monitoring authority to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and local law enforcement, with provisions set to expire on August 1, 2030.

Statutes affected:
SB469 Original: 40:13(B)(6), 40:14(A), 40:18(B)(4)