RS 3453 - Priority list of projects; public hearings; final program
Each quarter, the department shall prepare and shall furnish a prioritized list of projects, based on the applications received by the department during that quarter, to the joint committee. The joint committee shall receive the prioritized list of projects from the department for each of the first three quarters of the year, and shall call a public hearing within thirty days of receiving the list in order to receive public testimony regarding any project on the list. At such hearing, the joint committee shall vote to either accept, reject, or modify the list. Each quarter, the department shall reprioritize the list of projects to reflect the cumulative list of projects recommended by the department. After application recommendations for the last quarter are made by the department, the department shall submit the final port construction and development priority program for the ensuing fiscal year to the joint committee for approval. Prior to the convening of the regular session of the legislature, the joint committee shall hold a public hearing for the purpose of reviewing the final program for the ensuing fiscal year. Prior to such hearing, the department shall publish the appropriate official notice in the necessary journals. The final program shall be based upon the anticipated revenues to be appropriated by the legislature or other funding obligation authority and the projects shall be listed in order of priority. When this final construction program is presented to the legislature for funding or funding obligation authority for the ensuing fiscal year, the legislature shall not add any projects to this final construction program. Any project recommended by the department and approved by the joint committee but for which funds are unavailable in the fiscal year for which it was approved shall remain on the prioritized list of projects and shall be carried forward to the next fiscal year. Such project shall retain its place on the prioritized list of projects and shall receive a higher priority over newly recommended projects in the next fiscal year.
Acts 1989, No. 452, §1, eff. June 30, 1989; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 161, §1, eff. May 7, 1998; Acts 2006, No. 18, §1, eff. May 4, 2006.