PRESIDENT'S MONTHLY UPDATE
ACECL Board of Directors Meeting
On March 15, 2019, the ACECL Board of Directors convened for its monthly board meeting. For your information, attached are committee reports presented and discussed during the meeting.  The next meeting of the Board of Directors will be March 16, 2019 in Baton Rouge from 9:00am-12:00pm in conjunction with the 2019 Business Forum.    

ACECL welcomes Bluewing Civil Consulting as its newest members!

SPRING MEANS SESSION
2019 Regular Legislative Session convenes April 8, 2019
GAS TAX LEGISLATION  HB 542 by Rep. Steve Carter (BR)
  • Preserves current infrastructure capital funds ($90M) by shifting 3 cents to the constitutionally protected Sub-Fund in the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) in FY 2020.
  • Moves another 5 cents every other year from TTF to Sub-Fund between 2021 and 2025.
  • 8 cents will remain in the TTF to provide for DOTD operating costs.
  • New Funds
  • Levies new six (6) cents per gallon on gasoline in 2019; additional 12 cents by 2031 for net of 18 cents per year by 2031 ($405m)
  • Levies new four (4) cents per gallon diesel in 2019; additional 12 cents by 2031 ($120m)
  • All proceeds go into TTF Sub-Fund (must be used for capital projects)
  • Requires monies deposited into the Sub-Fund to be used in a 60/40 split toward preservation and capacity improvements
  • 60% preservation
  • 40% capacity improvements

Additional provisions added since presentations made to ACECL Chapters and in past communication:

The following projects are prioritized in the 40% of capacity improvements:
  •  Replacement of the I-10 Calcasieu River bridge and I-10 improvements from the I-210 interchange west of the river to the I-210 interchange east of the river.
  • New Mississippi River bridge at Baton Rouge with freeway-level connections from the interstate west of Baton Rouge to the interstate east of Baton Rouge.
  • Upgrades to US 90 to interstate standards from the I-10/I-49 interchange at Lafayette to New Orleans.
  • Widening of I-12 to six lanes and associated improvements, where not yet upgraded, from Baton Rouge to the Mississippi state line.
  • Widening to six lanes and rehabilitation, where not yet upgraded, of I-20 from Industrial Drive in Bossier City to Monkhouse Drive in Shreveport.
  • Widening to six lanes and associated improvements to I-20 at Monroe from LA 546 to LA 594.
  • US 90/Port of New Orleans access improvements at New Orleans.

The present 0.45% state sales and use tax will expire on June 30, 2025 and is currently deposited into the state general fund:
  • Proposed law retains present law tax levy and expiration date but dedicates a portion of the avails of the temporary tax to the Construction sub-fund of the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) beginning July 1, 2020.
  • Proposed law increases the portion dedicated to the TTF each year for the life of the temporary tax such that by the last year of the tax 100% of the temporary tax is deposited into the TTF and that avails of the temporary sales tax dedicated to the TTF may be used only for project delivery, construction, and maintenance of state preservation and bridge projects.
  • Proposed law requires that a minimum of fifty percent of the temporary sales tax dedicated to the TTF be allocated equally among the nine multi-parish highway districts.

There are other bills that dedicate the existing sales tax to TTF sub-fund. The concept has now been added to this bill.

Click here to view bill: HB 542

BILLING VERIFICATION SOFTWARE
Across the country legislation has been introduced requiring independent contractors to install software on their desktop computers to track mouse clicks and keystrokes and capture periodic screenshots to verify hours billed on state contracts. ACEC state organizations, ACEC National and organized coalitions have fought the legislation resulting in defeated or amended legislation in several states. ACEC of Louisiana was able to coordinate with other local stakeholders to educate and inform key legislators ahead of Louisiana's session. As of the Friday deadline to file non-fiscal bills, the legislation was not filed. Due diligence to ensure language is not amended into other legislation during the legislative session will be a top priority for ACECL.

A full list of bills being monitored by ACECL will be forthcoming.  

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LOUISIANA FIX OUR ROADS DAY!


April 23, 2019


RSVP by April 16, 2019
Let us know how many will be attending!


10:30 AM -  Issue Briefing & Lunch
Location: TBD


1:00 PM -  Press Conference
1:30 PM -   Visit with your Legislators
State Capitol


Reception upon Adjournment
Location: TBD

(Times subject to change)
Let your voice be heard : LCFOR Facebook Page
DOTD Logo
DOTD CHIEF ENGINEER ROUNDTABLE
YOU ARE INVITED!!

ACECL Roundtable
with DOTD Chief Engineer

CHRISTOPHER P. KNOTTS, P.E.

April 10, 2019
10:00am - Noon

Location:
DOTD/LTRC/TTEC
Room 100 (auditorium)
4099 Gourrier Avenue
Baton Rouge LA 70808-4443
There are active ACECL Transportation Committee work groups tasked with developing position papers on Traffic Training, Performance, APL and Profit Calculations for further engagement with appropriate DOTD staff, however, we know there are other issues that our membership would like to discuss with the Chief Engineer so please send any discussion items to: 

John Basilica at  jbasilica@hntb.com  or
Doreen Brasseaux at  dbrasseaux@acecl.org 
by  COB April 5.  

This is an opportunity for the consulting community to also hear about the Chief Engineer's initiatives and provide direct feedback.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact John or Doreen.
You must RSVP by April 2!
YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS!
2019 BUSINESS FORUM AND ACEC PAC EVENT
May 16, 2019
9:00am – 5:30pm
Renaissance Hotel, Baton Rouge

ACECL will once again host a Business Forum bringing national speakers to Louisiana to give practical tips and advice on improving your firm’s bottom line! ACEC National President Linda Darr will be the luncheon speaker and we will once again have a member roundtable discussion focused on engineering business issues. AGC and AIA are co-hosts.
ACEC-PAC FUNDRAISER
TOPGOLF of Baton Rouge
May 16, 2019
6:00p-8:00pm
Come for the Forum and stay for the Par-Tee!
Help ACECL meet its 2019 ACEC PAC Goal
$200 per person
Includes: TopGolf games, all equipment, hors d'oeuvres, and (2) drink tickets
Only 50 tickets are available and they will go fast!!

Your purchase of a Top Golf ACEC PAC ticket by 5:00 pm on 5/7/2019 enters you automatically in the ACEC PAC Sweepstakes worth up to $10,000!
Drawing to be held during ACEC'S Annual Convention in Washington DC, May 8
EMERGING LEADERS CLASS OF 2019
REGISTER NOW!!
Session 1: May 22 - May 23, 2019
Session II: August 27 - August 28, 2019

Deadline to Register is Monday, April 22, 2019

ACEC of Louisiana and AIA Louisiana are again partnering to offer the Emerging Leaders Institute series, a leadership and career development program for individuals committed to developing both their professional and personal leadership abilities. The program is limited to 20 participants and applications will be accepted on a first-come, first serve basis. Please note that the Institute has been a huge success since its implementation in 2015 and is typically filled to capacity within 2 weeks of advertisement so get your application in as soon as possible.



If you have any questions please contact  Janet Tomeny at  jtomeny@acecl.org

LA TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS GOLF TOURNAMENT
LET US KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR FIRM
If your firm or a member of your firm has recently been recognized for an achievement, let us know so we can promote on our social media page! 
Send to Doreen at dbrasseaux@acecl.org .

MAKE YOUR BOOKEEPER'S LIFE EASIER!
Any firm interested in signing up for monthly or quarterly automatic bank draft for dues can contact Haleigh Gray at hgray@acecl.org or 225-927-7704.  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Legislative Committee Meeting (Conference Call)
o  April 3 - 12pm-1:00pm
Transportation Committee Working Group on Performance Measures Meeting. ACECL Offices
o  April 4 - 10am-Noon
2019 Regular Legislative Session Convenes
o  April 8- Noon
BR Chapter Meeting – Sullivan’s Restaurant
o  April 8 - 11:30
o  Speaker: Robert Travis Scott, Public Affairs Research Council
DOTD Chief Engineer Roundtable – LTRC TTEC
o  April - 10am-Noon
Transportation Committee (Conference Call)
o  April 11 - 10am-11:30am
NOLA Chapter Meeting – Metairie Country Club
o  April 11 - 11:30am
o  Speaker: Ghassan Korban, SWBNOLA
Lake Charles Committee Meeting – Pioneer Club
o  May 1 11:30am
o  Speaker: Tim Conner, Calcasieu Parish Engineer
ACEC Annual Conference and Capitol Hill Visits - Washington DC
o  May 5-8, 2019 
BR Chapter Meeting, Sullivan’s Restaurant
o  May 13 11:30
o  In conjunction with LES/ASCE
ACEC/L Business Forum - Renaissance Hotel, Baton Rouge
o  May 16
ACEC/L Board Meeting – Renaissance Hotel, Baton Rouge
o  May 17
Deep South Conference, San Destin
o  July 10-14
Inaugural Engineering Excellence Awards – Renaissance Hotel, BR
o November 21
Thank You to our Sponsors!
Doreen Brasseaux
President & CEO
ACEC of Louisiana
ACEC of Louisiana | 225.927.7704 |  dbrasseaux@acecl.org  |  www.acecl.org