SB 324: FUNDS/FUNDING: Provides for changes to the Water Sector Program. (gov sig) (EN NO IMPACT See Note) - Louisiana

SB324 Enrolled → SB324 Original · 3 edits

MINOR

The diff reflects a transition from the Enrolled (final signed) version of SB 324 back to the Original (as-filed) version. The substantive policy text is essentially identical between the two; changes are limited to administrative formatting, document status headers, removal of signature blocks, and addition of a legislative digest. No new policy provisions were added or removed.

TECHNICAL

A legislative digest section was added at the end of the Original version summarizing what the bill does relative to existing law (R.S. 39:100.56), including removal of the office of facility planning and control from program administration, clarification of emergency grant eligibility for limited fiscal administrators and receivers, extension of the project rating deadline from 45 to 60 days, and new authority for the commission to rescind grants or approve scope-of-work modifications.

Signature blocks for the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and Governor (with 'APPROVED' notation) were removed, consistent with reverting from an enrolled (signed) document to the original as-filed version.

Document headers changed from 'ENROLLED' to 'ORIGINAL' with a new legislative services number (SLS 26RS-353), and a 'FUNDS/FUNDING' keyword line was added identifying the bill's subject matter.

SB324 Original → SB324 Act · 6 edits

MODERATE

SB 324 was amended to clarify administrative responsibilities and significantly update the Water Sector Program's emergency funding procedures. The bill now explicitly includes the Office of Community Development in administering the program and expands the definition of eligible emergency situations to cover systems under various types of financial receivership. Additionally, the timeline for submitting emergency grant guidance was accelerated, and the process for prioritizing and awarding funds was streamlined to allow for subsequent grants without requiring new applications.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include the Office of Community Development as a co-administrator and to cover community water and sewer systems under court-appointed receivership or fiscal administration.

SCOPE

Added the Office of Community Development to the list of agencies administering the Water Sector Program, ensuring broader oversight and collaboration.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligibility for emergency grants to include community water and sewer systems under court-appointed receivership, fiscal administrator, limited fiscal administrator, or receiver appointments.

TIMELINE

Set a specific deadline of September 1, 2024, for the commission to hold a meeting and submit priorities for emergency grant guidance.

REQUIREMENT

Required the division to promulgate guidance for emergency grants by October 1, 2024, including criteria for ratings and prioritizing critical infrastructure needs.

Extended the time limit for the division to submit project ratings and funding recommendations from forty-five days to sixty days after the application period ends.

FISCAL

Added provisions allowing the commission to submit recommendations for subsequent grant awards based on initial ratings without requiring applicants to submit a new application.

SB324 Engrossed → SB324 Enrolled · 6 edits · May 13, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as Enrolled, removing the 'Engrossed' status and updating page counts. Substantively, the bill clarifies that emergency funds can be used for systems under court-appointed receivership or fiscal administration. It also sets a specific deadline for the commission to hold a meeting by September 1, 2024, to establish grant priorities and requires the division to submit guidance by October 1, 2024.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding emergency funding eligibility was expanded to explicitly include community water and sewer systems under court-appointed receivership or fiscal administration.

STATUS

Changed the bill status from 'ENGROSSED' to 'ENROLLED', indicating the final version passed both legislative chambers.

TECHNICAL

Updated the page count reference from 'Page 1 of 5' to 'Page 1 of 4' to reflect the final document length.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligibility for emergency grants to include community water and sewer systems under court-appointed receivership or fiscal administration.

TIMELINE

Mandated a commission meeting by September 1, 2024, to submit priorities for emergency grants.

REQUIREMENT

Required the division to submit proposed guidance to the commission for approval by October 1, 2024.

Extended the time for the division to submit project ratings from 45 to 60 days after the application period ends.

FUNDS/FUNDING: Provides for changes to the Water Sector Program. (gov sig) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

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