EXECUTIVE ORDER MJF 99-14

EXECUTIVE ORDER MJF 99-14

Office of Community Programs

WHEREAS, the governor annually hosts a Governor's Conference for the officers and employees of the executive branch of state government to direct their attention to issues on accountability and citizen services;

WHEREAS, the 1998 Governor's Conference produced recommendations about prioritizing the manner in which the state conducts business and improving the delivery of state services to the citizens of the state of Louisiana;

WHEREAS, the Office of the Governor has many agencies and/or divisions within it which provide a wide range of services for the citizens and local governments of the state of Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, coordinating the operation and delivery of the services provided by the agencies and/or divisions of the Office of the Governor through a single office is consistent with the recommendations developed at the 1998 Governor's Conference and will result in a more effective use of state funds;

NOW THEREFORE, I, M.J. "MIKE" FOSTER, JR., 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 Office of Community Programs (hereafter "Office") is established within the executive department, Office of the Governor.

SECTION 2: The Office shall be composed of the following agencies and divisions of the Office of the Governor:

A. The Office of Disability Affairs (R.S. 46:2581, et seq.);

B. The Office of Elderly Affairs (R.S. 46:931, et seq.);

C. The Office of Indian Affairs (R.S. 46:2301, et seq.);

D. The Office of Municipal Affairs;

E. The Louisiana State Interagency Coordinating Council for Child Net (R.S. 17:1979 and R.S. 36.4(R));

F. The Office of Rural Development (R.S. 3:314, et seq.);

G. The Louisiana Abstinence Education Project (Executive Order No. MJF 98-11, as amended by Executive Order No. MJF 99-13);

H. The Louisiana State Troops to Teachers Placement Assistance Program (Memorandum of Agreement dated February 2, 1995);

I. The Office of Urban Affairs and Development (Executive Order No. MJF 96-47); and

J. The Office of Women's Services (R.S. 46:2521, et seq.).

 SECTION 3: The duties and functions of the Office shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

A. Coordinating, directing, and monitoring the manner in which the services of the agencies and/or divisions of the Office of the Governor that are listed in Section 2 of this Order are provided to the citizens and local governments of the state of Louisiana;

B. Promoting and coordinating legislative initiatives that are designed to improve the quantity, quality, and delivery of the state services provided for the benefit of the citizens and local governments of the state of Louisiana;

C. Disseminating information about state services and legislative initiatives to state, federal, and/or private agencies which provide services to the citizens and/or local governments of the state of Louisiana; and

D. Advising the governor on all issues related to state services that are provided for the benefit of citizens and/or local governments of the state of Louisiana.

 SECTION 4:

A. A member of the governor's executive staff shall serve as the executive director of the Office. The executive director shall report to the governor, or the governor's designee.

B. The executive director shall be the appointing and budget authority for all the agencies and/or divisions of the Office of the Governor listed in Section 2 of this Order, with the exception of the Offices of Women's Services and Elderly Affairs.

C. The directors and/or executive directors of each of the agencies and/or divisions listed in Section 2 of this Order shall report directly to the executive director. However, the executive director of the Office of Urban Affairs and Development shall not be required to report to the executive director regarding matters related to the allocation of program funds.

D. The executive director shall prepare, and update as needed, reports and spreadsheets on all contract, loan and/or grant sources and on all loans, grants, and/or contracts that are issued and/or awarded by the agencies and/or divisions of the Office of the Governor listed in Section 2 of this Order and/or by any other governmental entity in the executive branch which is required to report to the governor by the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, as amended, or by legislative act. The executive director shall submit such reports and updated reports to the governor, the president of the Louisiana Senate, the speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives, and the commissioner of administration.

SECTION 5: All entities in the executive branch of state government which are required by the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, as amended, or by legislative act to report to the governor, are required to report all available grant, loan, and/or contract funding sources to the Office.

SECTION 6: Support staff, facilities, and resources for the Office shall be provided by the Office of the Governor.

SECTION 7: All departments, commissions, boards, agencies, and officers of the state, or any political subdivision thereof, are authorized and directed to cooperate with the Office in implementing the provisions of this Order.

SECTION 8: 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 26th day of March, 1999.

M.J. "Mike" Foster
Governor

ATTEST BY
THE GOVERNOR
Fox McKeithen
Secretary of State