§ 36:508 — Office of project delivery; functions; assistant secretary; powers and duties

§508. Office of project delivery; functions; assistant secretary; powers and duties
A. There is hereby created within the Department of Transportation and
Development, the office of project delivery, which shall administer engineering matters
related to the state's highway program with respect to project development, planning, design,
construction, maintenance, extension, improvement, and regulation of roads, highways,
expressways, bridges, and related matters, and any other special highway engineering
program as may be directed by the secretary. The office shall also administer the public
works functions of the state related to flood and drainage control, reclamation, water
resources, soil conservation, mapping, disaster relief, and related matters, the state's
participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq., and other
special programs as may be directed by the secretary.
B. The office of project delivery shall be under the immediate supervision of the
assistant secretary, who shall be appointed by the secretary. The assistant secretary shall
serve at the pleasure of the secretary. He may be licensed to practice civil engineering in
Louisiana. The assistant secretary shall give his whole time to the duties of his office.
C. The assistant secretary shall have authority subject to approval of the secretary
and in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the civil service commission to
employ, appoint, transfer, assign, and promote such personnel as is necessary for the efficient
administration of the office of project delivery.
D. The assistant secretary shall receive an annual salary fixed by the governor, which
salary shall not exceed the amount approved for such position by the legislature while in
session.
E. Before entering upon the duties of his office he shall take the prescribed oath and
give bond to the governor in the sum of ten thousand dollars, conditioned upon the faithful
performance of his duties. This bond shall be approved by the governor and filed with the
secretary of state. The cost of this bond may be paid by the department with approval of the
secretary.
F. The chief engineer shall approve all plans, specifications, and estimates for the
construction of all facilities and projects for which his office is responsible. He also shall
have such other duties as may be assigned to him by the secretary or the assistant secretary,
by the provisions of this Chapter, or by the laws of this state. He shall report the proceedings
of his office annually to the secretary of the department and at such other times as the
secretary may designate, and he shall make any additional reports as are required by the
secretary.
G. The assistant secretary in consultation with the chief engineer and with approval
of the secretary may designate a licensed engineer in the office of project delivery to perform
any duties required of the chief engineer when the chief engineer is absent.
H. The strategic mission of the assistant secretary shall be to, whenever possible,
employ individuals skilled in project delivery and contract management who are not also
licensed professional engineers.
I. The assistant secretary and the unclassified direct reports under his direction shall
maximize to the fullest extent possible the privatization of services and functions within the
office.
{{NOTE: SEE ACTS 1988, NO. 488, §§2, 3.}}

Legislative History

Acts 1988, No. 488, §1, eff. July 9, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 91, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1381, §1, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 71, §1, eff. July 1, 1998; Acts 2006, No. 11, §3; Acts 2011, No. 261, §1, eff. June 28, 2011; Acts 2012, No. 753, §4; Acts 2025, No. 375, §1.