RS 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 the Department of 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.
Added by Acts 2012, No. 810, §2; Acts 2018, No. 197, §1.