| Advisory opinion request regarding whether the Statewide Cemetery
Response Task Force and/or their designees are required to file annual personal financial
disclosure statements pursuant to La. R.S. 42:1124.2.1. |
|
The Statewide Cemetery Response Task Force (CRTF) was
created by Act 713 in 2018, La. R.S. 29:726.4 to assess response and recovery
needs related to cemeteries during any emergency declaration by the state or
any parish thereof. The CRTF is
activated at the request of the director of the Governor's Office of Homeland
Security and Emergency Preparedness when the state or a parish has issued an
emergency declaration and there is evidence that damage has occurred to a
cemetery.
The CRTF has the power to (1) determine whether
response and recovery efforts related to cemeteries are necessary; (2) when
response is necessary, make recommendations for the nature of the response; (3)
provide subject matter expertise as requested during the response; (4) may
direct available parish and local resources for the response; (5) coordinate
with any relevant federal agencies on cemetery impacts response and recovery;
(6) coordinate with any impacted parish or local government on the cemetery
impacts response and recovery; (7) coordinate with any non-governmental organizations,
funeral directors, monument and vault companies, churches, cemetery
authorities, associations, and vendors involved in the cemetery impacts
response and recovery; and, (8) advise the director of the governor's Office of
Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness of any public health or other
concerns as it relates to disinterred remains for which the person responsible for
disposition cannot be located. The CRTF
does not directly maintain, or maintain the authority for, expenditures, funds
or debts.
The CRTF does work with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency in the administration of its Individual Assistance and Public
Assistance Programs; however, those funds are solely controlled by FEMA. Claims must be made to obtain assistance
through one of FEMA's programs. The CRTF
does not directly handle such funding, but rather monitors the claim process to
ensure that the funds are paid by FEMA and then are properly used by the
applicant.
Any and all funding and contracts let for the CRTF's
other obligations are exclusively managed by the Governor's Office of Homeland
Security and Emergency Preparedness.
|
|
|
La. R.S. 42:1124.2.1 requires financial disclosure for each member
and designee of a board or commission which has the authority to expend,
disburse or invest $10,000 or more of funds in a fiscal year on or before May
15th of each year during which the person holds office and the year
following termination of the holding of such office.
|
|
|
Adopt proposed advisory opinion.
|
|
| Assigned Attorney: |
Tracy Barker |
|
|