§2502. Powers and duties of board

A. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, through the Interagency Recreation Board, shall provide for the development and operation of golf courses, tennis courts, ball parks, and other recreational facilities on available land suitable for that purpose owned by the state of Louisiana or its various agencies for the purpose of:

(1) Providing recreation for the citizens of the state of Louisiana.

(2) Providing maintenance training for and as an aid to rehabilitation of inmates under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

(3) Providing recreation for state employees and patients at state institutions in rural areas.

B. The golf course, tennis court, ball park, and recreation facility program including the construction of such facilities shall be administered and implemented in accordance with policies and plans established by the Interagency Recreation Board and rules and regulations adopted by the board, which shall be the policymaking body for the program. In carrying out this policymaking function, the board shall:

(1) Annually adopt, and during the year periodically review and amend as necessary, a master golf course, tennis court, ball park, and recreation facility plan and budget for the specific operations of the Interagency Recreation Board and facilities under its jurisdiction, including construction, maintenance, and operation of facilities. The plan shall address the needs of the citizens of this state, employees of state agencies and political subdivisions located in rural areas, and patients in state institutions and shall include but shall not be limited to a description of and specifications for operation of each golf course, tennis court, ball park, and recreation facility to be established by the board.

(2) Estimate the financial benefits to be derived from the program.

(3) Determine the locations at which the program is to be carried out, including acreage or areas of land or facilities to be used.

(4) Ensure that the most cost-effective method of construction is followed insofar as it relates to materials, design expertise, and equipment to be used or purchased.

(5) Determine the persons required to participate in the enterprise as well as the proposed disposition and future management of the completed facilities.

(6) Employ a director and, if necessary, an assistant director to administer the programs and functions of the board.

(7) Determine the estimated costs.

(8) Determine the use of all land or facilities transferred to, used by, or under the jurisdiction of the Interagency Recreation Board.

(9) Repealed by Acts 2001, No. 1185, §8, eff. July 1, 2001.

(10) Approve such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to implement the provisions of this Chapter and to carry out any other duties of the board in accordance with law.

C. In developing the plan required by Subsection B of this Section, the board, after appropriate analysis and study, shall give consideration to teaching skills to inmate labor and the operation of each enterprise at a favorable cost-benefit ratio.

D. In determining the cost-benefit ratio of each facility the board shall take into consideration:

(1) The cost savings realized in minimizing employee turnover and retraining costs of employees of departments, institutions, agencies, or political subdivisions of the state located in close proximity to the recreational facilities.

(2) The therapeutic benefits to state institution patients able to use the facilities.

(3) The benefits realized from the teaching of skills to and the rehabilitation of inmates under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

E. The board shall establish and fix the costs for utilization of its facilities by the public. All monies realized from utilization of the golf courses, tennis courts, ball parks, and other recreational facilities constructed and established in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and all monies realized through any other operations of the board shall be paid into the state treasury and shall be credited to the state general fund after compliance with the provisions of Article VII, Section 9 of the Constitution of Louisiana with respect to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund.

Acts 1999, No. 1148, §2; Acts 2001, No. 1185, §§4 and 8, eff. July 1, 2001.