Provides relative to fees collected by the Louisiana Department of Health
Summary
HB 661 revises several fee provisions administered by the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health. The bill sets or updates fees for food and beverage vendors at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, export certificates and certificates of free sale, individual sewage system installation and licensing, sewage inspection requests tied to loan transactions, and plan reviews for new facilities or substantial renovations. It also establishes an expedited plan review option for an additional fee, requiring a complete review within five business days if the higher fee is paid.
The bill further amends the fee structure for therapeutic marijuana retail permits, setting an annual retail permit fee of $22,500 for each of the ten authorized retail permit holders. It also repeals a prior sewage-fee provision, while leaving other public health fee authorities in place. Overall, the measure is a revenue and administrative update for public health regulatory programs rather than a broad policy change.
Impact
HB 661 amends Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 40 to authorize or revise multiple Department of Health fee schedules and to create a new plan review fee provision. It affects vendors at a major festival, manufacturers and distributors seeking export or free-sale certificates, sewage system installers and inspectors, applicants for public health plan review, and therapeutic marijuana retail permit holders. The bill also repeals R.S. 40:31.32(F), narrowing prior sewage-fee language and replacing it with updated fee provisions.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been generally supported and noncontroversial in the legislature, as reflected by strong final passage votes in both chambers and unanimous House concurrence in Senate amendments. The vote margins suggest broad acceptance of the Department of Health fee adjustments and the related administrative changes. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded debate to indicate significant opposition or concern.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are the new or increased fees themselves, particularly the $22,500 annual retail permit fee for therapeutic marijuana dispensaries, the $1,000 expedited plan review charge, and the various sewage-related and event vendor fees. Those provisions could affect small businesses, permit applicants, and regulated operators who must pay the costs. However, the voting history suggests any objections were limited and did not prevent passage.
Redistricts the Louisiana Supreme Court to increase the composition of the court from seven to nine justices. (2/3 - CA5s4)(Item #3)(See Act) (EG INCREASE GF EX See Note)