EXECUTIVE ORDER MJF 01-01

The Department of Economic Development Reorganization Task Force

WHEREAS, the Vision 2020 program has provided a strong, clear, far-reaching economic development plan which is necessary to prepare Louisiana to meet the economic challenges and opportunities of the twenty-first century;

WHEREAS, Vision 2020 and other economic development studies have recommended significant organizational changes to the Department of Economic Development;

WHEREAS, the Department of Economic Development is currently organized to promote the development of traditional industries in the state;

WHEREAS, all studies have shown that Louisiana trails far behind the rest of the nation in the creation of new economy, high tech, high wage jobs;

WHEREAS, the staff of the Department of Economic Development have worked diligently to promote Louisiana interests but have been hampered by the current organizational structure of the department;

WHEREAS, Vision 2020 and other studies have identified the concept of cluster-based economic development as being best-suited to promote a new economy in Louisiana;

WHEREAS, the current organizational structure of the Department of Economic Development is overly cumbersome and bureaucratic, making it difficult to operate with the speed needed by companies seeking to locate or expand in Louisiana;

WHEREAS, the current organizational structure of the Department of Economic Development fragments the efforts of the department among many separate independent programs which were piecemealed together over time and therefore are unable to cooperate as fully and smoothly as necessary;

WHEREAS, reorganizing the Department of Economic Development around the cluster-based concept will allow Louisiana to aggressively target its efforts toward attracting high quality, high wage industries to locate and expand in Louisiana;

WHEREAS, such a cluster-based organization will allow for closer coordination between the Department of Economic Development and the educational system of Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, such a cluster-based organization will allow the Department of Economic Development to employ professionals who have experience and special expertise within a particular industry;

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 Department of Economic Development Reorganization Task Force (hereafter "Task Force") is established within the executive department, Office of the Governor.

SECTION 2: The duties of the Task Force shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. review the studies and recommendations of Vision 2020 and the recent consultant's review of the organizational problems facing the Department of Economic Development;

2. recommend specific organizational changes in the department of economic development necessary to achieve the overall recommendations of the previous studies;

3. identify statutory changes needed to accomplish such a reorganization and work with legislators and legislative staff to draft such legislation;

4. identify budgetary changes needed to accomplish such a reorganization and work with appropriate officials to implement such budgetary changes; and

5. recommend goals, objectives, and performance accountability measures for the reorganized department.

SECTION 3: The Task Force shall meet at the call of the chair. The Task Force shall submit a comprehensive report to the governor addressing the issues set forth in Section 2 of this Order by March 1, 2001. The Task Force shall also assist the legislature and its committees in understanding its recommendations and the reasons behind them.

SECTION 4: The Task Force shall be composed of a maximum of twenty-five (25) members who, unless otherwise specified, shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the governor. The membership of the Task Force shall be selected as follows:

1. the governor, or the governor's designee;

2. the secretary of the Department of Economic Development, or the secretary's designee;

3. the commissioner of administration, or the commissioner's designee;

4. the secretary of the Department of Labor, or the secretary's designee;

5. the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development, or the secretary's designee;

6. a member of the Louisiana Economic Development Council, appointed by the governor;

7. a member of the Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association, appointed by the governor;

8. a member of the Louisiana Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, appointed by the governor;

9. a member of the Council for a Better Louisiana, appointed by the governor;

10. a member of the Committee of 100, appointed by the governor;

11. a member of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, appointed by the governor;

12. a member of the Louisiana Women Business Owners Association, appointed by the governor;

13. a member of the Louisiana Chemical Association, appointed by the governor;

14. a member of the Gulf South Minority Supplier Development Council, appointed by the governor;

15. a representative of a regional economic development agency located in Louisiana, appointed by the governor;

16. a member of the higher education community, appointed by the governor;

17. a representative of the Ports Association of Louisiana, appointed by the governor;

18. two (2) members of the business community, appointed by the governor;

19. three (3) members of the Louisiana Senate, designated by the president of the Senate; and

20. three (3) members of the Louisiana House of Representatives designated by the speaker of the House of Representatives.

SECTION 5: Support staff, facilities, and resources for the Task Force shall be provided by the Department of Economic Development.

SECTION 6: Task Force members shall not receive compensation, a per diem, or travel expenses from the Office of the Governor for serving on the Task Force.

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 Department of Economic Development in implementing the provisions of this Order.

SECTION 8: This Order is effective upon signature and shall continue in effect until June 18, 2001, unless it is amended, modified, terminated, or rescinded by the governor, or terminated by operation of law prior to that date.

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 17th day of January, 2001

M.J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
Governor

ATTEST BY
THE GOVERNOR
Fox McKeithen
Secretary of State