§1135. Powers; functions; duties; responsibilities

A. The board shall issue rules and regulations to administer, implement, and enforce this Part. The procedure for proposing, amending, repealing, and promulgating a rule or regulation shall be in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, R.S. 49:950 et seq. to the extent that any procedure in the Administrative Procedure Act does not conflict with any provision of this Part.

B. The board shall review and may approve or reject any proposed rule or regulation that may be adopted by any of the Board of Commissioners or Examiners, except for rules and regulations adopted on an emergency basis. Any rejection by the board shall be within ninety days of submission of the proposed rule or regulation to the board; otherwise, such rule or regulation shall be deemed approved.

C. The board shall request, receive, and review reports prepared by the Board of Commissioners or Examiners related to accidents involving state commissioned pilots subject to this Chapter while the pilot is acting under his state commission, and the board may either:

(1) Review the report and take no further action, consenting to the action of the submitting Board of Commissioners or Examiners.

(2) Remand the matter to the submitting Board of Commissioners or Examiners for further investigation or proceedings, the results of which are to be submitted to the board.

D. The board shall receive reports as to consent disciplines agreed to by and between a pilot and the Board of Commissioners or Examiners, and the board may either:

(1) Review the report and take no further action, consenting to the action of the submitting Board of Commissioners or Examiners.

(2) Remand the matter to the submitting Board of Commissioners or Examiners for further investigation or proceedings, the results of which are to be submitted to the board.

E. The board shall receive reports as to all formal disciplinary adjudications rendered by the Board of Commissioners or Examiners, and the board may either:

(1) Review the report and take no further action, consenting to the action of the submitting Board of Commissioners or Examiners.

(2) Remand the matter to the submitting Board of Commissioners or Examiners for further investigation or proceedings, the results of which are to be submitted to the board.

F. The board shall receive appeals from any party to a formal disciplinary proceeding before the Board of Commissioners or Examiners. Following notice and a hearing, the board may acquit the pilot or may impose its own sanctions against a pilot, including but not limited to reprimand of the pilot, ordering the pilot to participate in remedial training, impose a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars, order the pilot to pay the costs of the hearings inclusive of attorney fees, or recommend to the governor that the pilot's commission be suspended or revoked. The board shall have the authority to suspend a pilot's commission in the event of an emergency pursuant to the emergency procedures of the Administrative Procedure Act.

G. The board shall receive sworn complaints against any pilot from any source for actions taken by a pilot while in the performance of his duties, including acts of misconduct, carelessness, incompetence, intoxication, negligence, or the refusal to offer timely pilotage services without just cause. In addition the board shall receive sworn complaints for abuse of legally prescribed medication and illegal use of controlled dangerous substances. The board may conduct investigations, refer the matter to the Board of Commissioners or Examiners for investigation, or conduct hearings pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act and the rules adopted by the board. Following notice and a hearing, the board may acquit the pilot or may impose sanctions against the pilot, including but not limited to reprimand of the pilot, order the pilot to participate in remedial training, impose a probationary period, impose a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars, order the pilot to pay the costs of the hearings inclusive of attorney fees, or recommend to the governor that the pilot's commission be suspended or revoked. The board shall have the authority to suspend a pilot's commission in the event of an emergency pursuant to the emergency procedures of the Administrative Procedure Act.

H. Nothing in this Part shall prohibit the governor, in his discretion, from suspending or revoking a pilot's commission.

I. The board shall submit an annual report to the general counsel of the Department of Transportation and Development on accident investigation, which report shall identify the accident and location, the pilot involved, a description of the damage sustained, and the action taken by the board or the Board of Commissioners or Examiners. The annual report shall be submitted on or before the last day of February for accidents occurring during the previous year.

J. The board shall require that a permanent accident or incident record on each pilot shall be maintained as well as an accident investigation file as long as the pilot involved has a pilot commission.

K. The board shall submit an accident report as soon as practically possible to the general counsel of the Department of Transportation and Development in those accidents in which state property is involved or damaged. Such accident report shall provide a description of the circumstances surrounding the accident, including but not limited to the time and location, the state property involved or damaged, the name of the pilot, the name of the vessel, the name of the vessel's agent, and the name of the insurer of the vessel.

L. The board shall provide to all commissioned pilots a copy of the board's rules and regulations.

M. No provision contained in this Part shall limit or supersede the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Commissioners or Examiners.

N. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no part of a report issued or received by the board or the Board of Commissioners or Examiners, including findings of fact, opinions, recommendations, deliberations, or conclusions, shall be admissible as evidence or subject to discovery in any civil or administrative proceeding, other than an administrative proceeding initiated by the board or the Board of Commissioners or Examiners. No member of the board or the Board of Commissioners or Examiners shall be subject to deposition or other discovery, or otherwise testify in such proceedings relevant to the performance of their duties on the board or Board of Commissioners or Examiners. If an employee or member of the board or the Board of Commissioners or Examiners is called as an expert or fact witness pursuant to their duties, their testimony shall not be admissible and their report shall not be considered the report of an expert.

Acts 2004, No. 902, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005.