EXECUTIVE ORDER BJ 09-13
Louisiana Shrimp Task Force
WHEREAS, the Louisiana shrimp industry has a long, significant cultural importance to the State of Louisiana, and is of great economic impact because of the many jobs the industry provides;
WHEREAS, currently, global markets are experiencing an economic slowdown that, among other things, has led to extremely low prices that have affected all Louisiana shrimpers and the shrimp industry;
WHEREAS, in addition, in the last decade the number of commercial shrimpers in the state has decreased considerably, requiring the state to act and address the vulnerability of the industry;
WHEREAS, there should be an examination into how the industry functions, and to identify areas of concern which need to be addressed, including the potential violations of trade practices by foreign countries and the health and safety concerns of foreign produced shrimp; plans or policies should then be developed that will confront these issues; and
WHEREAS, all executive branch agencies and any political subdivisions therein should find ways in which they can increase the amount of Louisiana shrimp that they procure for any program they control which provides meals or food; parameters exist, namely Executive Order BJ 08-67 as well as R.S. 39:1595 and R.S. 38:2251, which can guide and encourage these agencies on the legality and procedures for procuring Louisiana shrimp;
NOW THEREFORE, I, BOBBY JINDAL, Governor of the State of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:
SECTION 1: The Louisiana Shrimp Task Force (hereinafter Task Force) is established, shall be placed within the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and shall be chaired by the Secretary of that Department.
SECTION 2:
A. The Task Force membership shall consist of the following:
1. The Governor, or his designee;
2. The Secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, or his designee;
3. The Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, or his designee;
4. The Attorney General, or his designee;
5. The Secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, or his designee;
6. The Executive Director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, or his designee;
7. The Secretary of the Department of Louisiana Economic Development, or his designee; and
8. The Executive Director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, or his designee.
B. The Governor may designate additional persons as ex-officio members as he deems necessary and prudent, especially persons representing the shrimp industry.
SECTION 3: The Task Force may interface with industry organizations and other relevant parties, as well as receive data and information and review presentations from industry experts, on items which may have a significant impact on the Louisiana shrimp industry.
SECTION 4: Task Force members shall not receive additional compensation or a per diem for their service, except for reimbursement for travel expenses, in accordance with PPM 49, from their employing and/or elected department, agency and/or office.
SECTION 5: Support staff, facilities and resources for the Task Force shall be provided by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
SECTION 6:
A. The Task Force shall examine the Louisiana shrimp industry as a whole, identify areas of concern or problems endemic to the industry, and develop plans or propose policies which can improve the economic sustainability of the industry.
B. Issues the Task Force should examine, but which the Task Force is not limited to, are: the effect of the current global economic slowdown on local markets; the impact of foreign produced shrimp on domestic markets, and ways to improve demand for domestic produced shrimp; the health and safety concerns of foreign produced shrimp; and the various possibilities to increase the marketing and promotion of Louisiana shrimp.
SECTION 7: As a start, all departments, agencies, boards, commissions and budget units of the executive branch of state government shall pursue all opportunities available that are reasonable and economically prudent which will allow them to increase the amount of Louisiana shrimp they procure for meals or food provided by them.
SECTION 8: All departments, commissions, boards, offices, entities, agencies and officers of the State of Louisiana, or any political subdivision thereof, are authorized and directed to assist and cooperate with implementing the provisions of this Order.
SECTION 9: This Order is effective upon signature and shall continue in effect until amended, modified, terminated, or rescinded by the Governor, or terminated by operation of law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the City of Baton Rouge, on this 31st day of August, 2009.
Bobby Jindal
Governor
ATTEST BY
THE GOVERNOR
Jay Dardenne
Secretary of State
0909#106
EXECUTIVE ORDER BJ 09-14
Louisiana Complete Count Committee
WHEREAS, the 2010 decennial census, to be conducted in April 2010, will be the official count of Louisiana’s population and will be used for purposes such as determining the number of United States Representatives Louisiana will be apportioned for the next ten years and for redistricting Louisiana’s state and local legislative bodies as well as other public entities;
WHEREAS, more importantly, Louisiana’s population count will be the deciding factor in the amount of federal funding that will be allocated to the state over the next decade. There will be over $300 billion in federal funding distributed among the states in 2010, which will be used to pay for services such as transportation, health care, education and public safety;
WHEREAS, the significant need for an accurate census count in 2010 is compounded by the historical fact that Louisiana has had one of the lowest response rates to the census questionnaire, as well as the dislocation of Louisianans due to past hurricanes and the varying growth rates among the municipalities in the state;
WHEREAS, based on the United States Census Bureau’s recommendation and the above information, it is therefore crucial that Louisiana implement a Complete Count Committee and utilize all possible opportunities to maximize the correct count of its population so that the state may have the highest possible number of United States Representatives as well as the largest share of federal funding it can receive in the future; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Complete Count Committee will accomplish this by increasing awareness of the importance of and impact that the 2010 Census will have on Louisiana, and by informing Louisianans of the necessity of responding to the census questionnaire. The Committee will lead the way in promoting the census and getting individuals, communities, businesses and local governmental entities involved in making sure that Louisiana maximizes its population count;
NOW THEREFORE, I, BOBBY JINDAL, Governor of the State of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:
SECTION 1: The Louisiana Complete Count Committee shall be formed by the Secretary of State, consistent with the recommendations issued by the United States Census Bureau, and shall be housed within his offices. The Secretary of State shall have the power to appoint members to the Committee and to form subcommittees to efficiently and effectively carry out the functions of the Committee.
SECTION 2: Since the count of Louisiana’s population will impact the state’s legislative representation and share of federal dollars, the Committee will plan and implement outreach efforts to publicize the importance and effect the 2010 Census will have on Louisiana.
SECTION 3: The Committee shall develop an action plan to raise the public’s awareness of the census and the necessity of responding to the questionnaire. The Committee shall identify ways to reach out to local communities, create partnerships with local and state political subdivisions and private entities, and create a campaign to educate Louisianans on the 2010 Census.
SECTION 4: All departments, commissions, boards, offices, entities, agencies, and officers of the State of Louisiana, or any political subdivision thereof, are authorized and directed to assist and cooperate with the Committee in implementing the provisions of this Order.
SECTION 5: This Order is effective upon signature and shall continue in effect until amended, modified, terminated, or rescinded by the Governor, or terminated by operation of law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the City of Baton Rouge, on this 3rd day of September, 2009.
Bobby Jindal
Governor
ATTEST BY
THE GOVERNOR
Jay Dardenne
Secretary of State
0909#107