CHAPTER 2. FLOOD CONTROL AND RELATED MATTERS

§81. Governor authorized to enter into contracts with federal authorities

A. The governor on behalf of the state or any state board, commission, agency, body politic or political subdivision or any section of the state may make and execute with any person, including the secretary of the army, the chief of engineers of the United States Army, or any other authorized representative of the federal government, any contract, agreement, arrangement, or undertaking, transaction, designed, or intended to carry out, effect, accomplish, or secure the benefits and obligations of any state or federal law, now existing or hereafter enacted, with respect to the control of flood waters, the navigation or use of the rivers flowing through this state or the reclamation, reforestation, soil preservation or protection and development of any lands, areas, or property situated in this state, the establishment of game sanctuaries, animal refuges, agricultural experimental or development projects, the development of our waterways, lowlands, drainage areas, storage basins, reservoirs, spillways, floodways, diversion channels for flood waters and areas, and all similar undertakings, whether specifically mentioned herein or not. The governor shall see to it that the interests of the state and its subdivisions, the rights and interests of its citizens and their property are adequately safeguarded and protected, as far as may be.

B. Whenever the governor acts on behalf of any state board, commission, political subdivision, or body politic, he shall transmit a copy of the written evidence of the agreement or contract certified by the secretary of state to the official custodian of the records of the board, commission, agency, or authority who shall file and record it in the records of its official proceedings. The agreement shall then become binding and effective upon the body or agency as if duly and regularly considered, authorized, adopted, executed, and ratified by the body or agency.

C. The governor may utilize to whatever extent they are empowered by law to function the various levee boards or boards of levee commissioners of this state, the Department of Transportation and Development, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board, or any other state board, commission, agency, or political subdivision. These authorities shall, to the fullest extent of their capacity, fully cooperate and coordinate their efforts under his direction in carrying out and accomplishing the obligations and requirements of the agreements and undertakings.

Amended by Acts 1952, No. 127, §13; Acts 2009, No. 523, §2, eff. July 10, 2009; Acts 2012, No. 604, §2, eff. June 7, 2012.