§ 29:65 — Duties and powers

§65. Duties and powers
A. The duties and objectives of the members of the council may include but are not
limited to the following:
(1) Provide a public forum for issues concerning the installations and units of the
armed forces located in Louisiana and the military and retired military personnel and their
families who reside in Louisiana.
(2) Formulate goals and objectives to enhance cooperation, coordination,
communication, and understanding among the military, United States Department of
Defense, the Louisiana congressional delegation, the communities in the state interfacing
with the military, and state and local government agencies.
(3) Study and determine the means to increase and strengthen the state's support to
the armed forces of the United States located within the state.
(4) Review and disseminate information about proposed legislation related to and
directly impacting the military communities within the state.
(5) Propose and sponsor activities, legislation, initiatives, programs, or projects
which support and enhance the military's activities within the state or which enhance or
improve the quality of life for the military communities.
(6) Collect information about and become familiar with the concerns and activities
of local communities in enhancing and supporting their respective military bases.
(7) Conduct an analysis of the strengths of each military base and share the
evaluation with the affected community.
(8) In partnership with Louisiana Economic Development and local communities,
conduct ongoing analyses of current and proposed changes to the mission and military force
structure and alignment of the United States Department of Defense.
(9) Identify the most effective methods and practices used by local communities to
address the issue of military base support and enhancement and disseminate such best
practices among affected communities.
(10) Ensure that affected communities and stakeholders are informed of and invited
to assist and support state-level efforts to affect statewide coordination of information
gathering, strategy development, and the sharing of best practices.
(11) Educate the legislature on the importance of supporting legislation relating to
the state's military bases.
(12) Ensure that the council is strategically positioned to interface with decision
makers in the executive branch of the federal government, national and state homeland
security agencies, intelligence agencies, and the United States Congress, concerning the
state's military installations and major units.
(13) Research and identify best practices and strategies throughout the country with
respect to other military communities in order to leverage the state's competitive advantage.
(14) Increase public awareness of the presence and value of United States military
installations and their missions in Louisiana and public investment in supporting the state's
military bases.
B. The council shall submit an annual report on the first day of January to the
governor to provide the status of and progress achieved on the issues addressed in Subsection
A of this Section.
C. The council shall make, or cause to be made, all such studies, reviews, or analysis
which it finds necessary to effect the duties and objectives expressed above, including but
not limited to a quadrennial statewide and regional military economic impact analysis.
D. For purposes of this Section, "military" shall mean the Active National Guard,
Reserve, and retired military personnel from any branch of the military.

Legislative History

Added by Acts 2012, No. 810, §2; Acts 2018, No. 197, §1.