March 2014
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FINANCIAL REPORT, LICENSE PLATES, THE STATE HORSE AND THE STATE FRUIT TREE 
Bills regarding political candidate's financial reports, jury confidentiality, license plate types, the Mayhaw tree as our state tree, and the Painted Horse as the state horse, were some of the discussion points in the legislature's committee rooms.
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STATE DESIGN BUILD TASK FORCE COMPLETES FINDINGS
AIA Louisiana Provides Research
Senator Robert Adley's SCR 102 from the 2013 Regular Session established a task force to study and make recommendations relative to the authority for and use of the design-build method for contracts by public entities. It was the charge of the task force to make recommendations for guidelines for utilization of the design-build method of contracting for publicly funded projects as well as other project delivery methods or agreements or combination of methods or agreements to best serve the public interest. The resolution also required the task force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the chairmen of the House and Senate Committees on Transportation, Highways, and Public Work by by January 15, 2014.
AIA Louisiana provided essential information from our national chapter for the committee's research and utilization. The task force met on September 12, October 11, and December 19, 2013. As a result of input from individual members based on their subject matter expertise, review of relevant testimony and other state statutes, and the needs of the state, the task force members found the benefits of Design-Build and potential detriments of Design-Build. Click here to view findings.
Design-Build Task Force members included: Representative Walter J. Leger, III, Chairman; Senator Conrad Appel, Vice Chairman; Senator Robert Adley; Representative Karen St. Germain; Edward Wedge III, P.E., Project Management Director, Department of Transportation and Development; Stephen Losavio, Assistant Director, Facility Planning and Control; Raymond Reaux, P.E. Vice President of Engineering, C.H. Fenstermaker & Associates; Bill Tudor, AIA, Alliance Design Group, President, AIA Louisiana; Ken Naquin, Chief Executive Officer, Louisiana Associated General Contractors; John Walters, Vice President of Governmental Relations, Associated Builders and Contractors; Donald Brinkman, Director of Engineering and Maintenance, Port of Lake Charles; Ashley Hebert, Legislative Analyst, House Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works; Renee Mozee, Committee Secretary, House Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works.
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GOVERNOR JINDAL ADDRESSES LEGISLATURE
Workforce Development and Lawsuit Reform Among Top Priorities
 "...We have tens of thousands of jobs in the pipeline that must be filled, and our next challenge is to ensure we have the skilled workforce to fill these jobs of the future...our top priority this legislative session must be making sure we have the resources to prepare our students and train them for the jobs of the future." - Governor Jindal Read entire speech here Watch a video of the speech online at LABI.org |
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOSPITALS Grease Trap Specs In response to questions posed by AIA members concerning grease trap specs:
The minimum state grease trap requirements are contained in Section 1005 of LAC 51:XIV (LA State Plumbing Code). The "default" requirement is that all facilities that produce grease in quantities that can cause issues to the drainage/treatment system are required to install a grease trap meeting the design and size requirements in Chapter 10. As you are aware, a grease trap is typically installed outdoors and has a much larger capacity than a grease interceptor. This is beneficial because as units begin to reach their grease storage capacity the grease removal efficiency is reduced. The larger capacity also allows the influent to cool and for FOGs to separate, are less likely to be short-circuited, and provide for longer maintenance/clean-out schedules.
I have provided some excerpts that should help shed some light onto when a grease interceptor may be approved in lieu of a grease trap. Essentially this allowance is only in place for unique situations (i.e., downtown areas without any outdoor space, kitchens on upper floors of multi-storied buildings, where the installation of a grease trap would be a long distance from the source that could cause potential congealing issues in the line, etc.). This decision is made on a case-by-case basis and requires approval from the "plumbing official" which means it requires approval from both the local and state jurisdictions. Please be aware that this is not a new requirement, the 2000 edition also required a grease trap but provided for the allowance of a grease interceptor by the plumbing official. When dealing with restaurants the State jurisdiction is typically the DHH Retail Food Program (located in the applicable Parish Health Unit), and the local jurisdiction is typically the local city/parish plumbing or building official. I have provided a contact list for Sanitarian Services which includes the Parish Health Units.
I want to stress again the importance of getting approval by both the state and locals officials before purchasing and installing any grease trap/interceptor. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Jeremy Harris, E.I.
DHH-OPH-CEHS Engineering Services
628 N. Fourth Street
P.O. Box 4489
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
(Phone) 225-342-7471
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MEET YOUR STATE LOBBYIST 
The 2014 Regular Session of the Legislature began Monday, March 10th and closes Monday, June 2nd. Over 1,500 bills have been filed. Our legislative team will be busy positioning AIA architects as the experts of the built environment. Adam Haddox is the leader of our team and represents AIA Louisiana in the state legislature and with public agencies. Adam works for Capitol Resources, LLC, which is a governmental affairs firm operating across the South and Washington, D.C. Haddox's work focuses on a range of business related issues and challenges that arise with Louisiana's executive and legislative branches of government. His business and political experience spans across industries including architecture, manufacturing, rail transportation, and telecommunication. Originally from northeast Louisiana, Haddox graduated from LSU with a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication. He and his wife, Lauren, live in Baton Rouge with their two sons William (age three) and Stewart (age one).
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"Just because you do not take an interest in politics, doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you." - Pericles
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STAY CONNECTED 
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