Regulatory Comment Letter - Louisiana

REGULATORY COMMENT LETTER — LOUISIANA

Overview of Louisiana Regulatory Comment Framework

Louisiana's administrative regulatory framework is governed by the Louisiana Administrative Procedure Act (LAPA) in Title 49, Chapter 13, beginning at La. R.S. 49:950. Louisiana requires agencies to provide at least 90 days' notice before taking action on a proposed rule, with the Notice of Intent published in the Louisiana Register. Louisiana's system also includes legislative oversight through the standing committees identified in La. R.S. 49:966.

Under La. R.S. 49:964(A)(2), the Office of the State Register must host an online portal for an interested person's comment that an existing rule is contrary to law, outdated, unnecessary, overly complex, or burdensome. The Office forwards the comment to the agency, which has 90 days after receipt either to explain its disagreement in writing or to initiate rulemaking to address the comment.

This template covers proposed-rule comments and the specific existing-rule portal route above. Interpretation, guidance, enforcement-policy, waiver, variance, declaratory-order, advisory-opinion, and no-action requests may be used only after the drafter identifies current agency-specific authority and procedure; the cited general rulemaking sections do not themselves establish all of those routes.

Key Louisiana Regulatory Agencies Accepting Comments

• Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) — Environmental regulations (LAC 33)
• Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) — Insurance regulations (LAC 37)
• Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC) — Utility regulation
• Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) — Tax regulations (LAC 61)
• Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) — Health regulations (LAC 48, LAC 50)
• Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR) — Natural resources (LAC 43)
• Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) — Labor and employment regulations (LAC 40)
• Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) — Agricultural regulations (LAC 7)
• Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) — Wildlife regulations (LAC 76)
• Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI) — Banking regulations (LAC 10)
• Louisiana Board of Ethics — Ethics regulations (LAC 52)
• Louisiana State Fire Marshal — Fire safety regulations (LAC 55)

Types of Regulatory Comments Covered

☐ Comment on proposed rule / Notice of Intent (La. R.S. 49:961)
☐ Existing-rule comment through the Office of the State Register portal under La. R.S. 49:964(A)(2)
☐ Agency-specific guidance or enforcement-policy comment — authority/procedure: [________________________________]
☐ Agency-specific waiver or variance request — authority/procedure: [________________________________]
☐ Petition for declaratory order (La. R.S. 49:977.4)
☐ Request for declaratory judgment on rule validity (La. R.S. 49:968)
☐ Petition for adoption, amendment, or repeal of rule
☐ Agency-specific no-action, interpretation, or advisory-opinion request — authority/procedure: [________________________________]
☐ Comment on emergency rule (La. R.S. 49:962)

FORMAL REGULATORY COMMENT LETTER

Letterhead Block

[________________________________]
[LAW FIRM / ORGANIZATION NAME]
[________________________________]
[Street Address]
[________________________________]
[City, State ZIP Code]
[________________________________]
[Telephone]
[________________________________]
[Email Address]

Date: [__/__/____]

VIA: ☐ Method required by Notice of Intent ☐ Electronic Submission ☐ U.S. Mail ☐ Hand Delivery ☐ Office of the State Register portal (existing-rule comments under § 49:964(A)(2))

[________________________________]
[Name of Agency Contact / Rules Coordinator]
[________________________________]
[Agency / Department Name]
[________________________________]
[Division / Office, if applicable]
[________________________________]
[Agency Street Address]
[________________________________]
[Baton Rouge / Other City], Louisiana [____]

RE: Line

Re: ☐ Comment on Proposed Rule (Notice of Intent) / ☐ Comment on Existing Rule / ☐ Request for Interpretation / ☐ Waiver Request / ☐ Petition for Declaratory Order / ☐ Other

Louisiana Administrative Code (LAC) Citation: LAC [____]:[____].[____].[____]
Louisiana Register Citation: Vol. [____], No. [____], dated [__/__/____], page [____]
Docket/Reference Number: [________________________________]
Subject Matter: [________________________________]
Comment Period Deadline: [__/__/____]

I. INTRODUCTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF COMMENTER

Dear [________________________________]:

On behalf of [________________________________] ("Commenter"), this letter is submitted to [________________________________] ("Agency") regarding [________________________________].

Commenter Identification:

Interest and Standing:

The Commenter has a direct and substantial interest in this matter because:

☐ The Commenter is directly regulated by the Agency under LAC [____]
☐ The Commenter is a Louisiana business affected by the regulation
☐ The Commenter represents [____] members/constituents subject to the regulation
☐ The Commenter is a political subdivision affected by the regulation
☐ The Commenter has relevant expertise
☐ The Commenter is an "interested person" submitting an existing-rule comment through the Office of the State Register portal under La. R.S. 49:964(A)(2)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

[________________________________]
[Describe the specific nature of the Commenter's interest.]

II. BACKGROUND AND FACTUAL CONTEXT

A. Regulatory Provision at Issue

The regulatory provision(s) at issue are:

1. LAC [____]:[____].[____].[____]: [________________________________]
2. LAC [____]:[____].[____].[____]: [________________________________]
3. Enabling Statute: La. R.S. [________________________________]

B. Louisiana Rulemaking Context

☐ This comment relates to a proposed rule published as a Notice of Intent in the Louisiana Register
☐ This comment relates to an emergency rule under La. R.S. 49:962
☐ This comment addresses an existing rule through the Office of the State Register portal under La. R.S. 49:964(A)(2) as contrary to law, outdated, unnecessary, overly complex, or burdensome
☐ This comment relates to agency guidance or policy documents
☐ This comment relates to a declaratory order request under La. R.S. 49:977.4

Note on Louisiana's 90-Day Notice Requirement: Under La. R.S. 49:961(A)(1), agencies must provide the notice and a copy of the proposed rules at least 90 days before taking action. Section 49:961(B) requires a reasonable opportunity to submit data, views, comments, or arguments orally or in writing; use the Notice of Intent's stated time, place, and manner.

Note on Commenting on Existing Rules: Submit the five-ground existing-rule comment through the Office of the State Register online portal. The Office forwards it to the agency; within 90 days after receipt, the agency must either respond in writing with its reasons for disagreement or initiate rulemaking to address the comment. A courtesy copy to the agency does not replace the statutory portal route.

C. Factual Background

[________________________________]
[Provide a detailed factual narrative describing the circumstances giving rise to this comment. Include relevant dates, transactions, business operations, compliance history, and any prior agency communications.]

D. Compliance Context

☐ The Commenter is currently in compliance and seeks clarification
☐ The Commenter has identified an ambiguity requiring interpretation
☐ The Commenter cannot comply as currently written and seeks a waiver or variance
☐ The Commenter believes the rule exceeds statutory authority
☐ The Commenter believes the rule is contrary to law (La. R.S. 49:964(A)(2))
☐ The Commenter believes the rule is outdated (La. R.S. 49:964(A)(2))
☐ The Commenter believes the rule is unnecessary (La. R.S. 49:964(A)(2))
☐ The Commenter believes the rule is overly complex (La. R.S. 49:964(A)(2))
☐ The Commenter believes the rule is unduly burdensome (La. R.S. 49:964(A)(2))
☐ The Commenter believes the rule conflicts with Louisiana or federal law
☐ Other: [________________________________]

E. Legislative Oversight Context

Under La. R.S. 49:966, agencies must submit certain reports to the standing committees of the Legislature:

☐ The Commenter has separately communicated with the relevant legislative committee
☐ The Legislature has previously acted on this regulation
☐ The Commenter requests that the appropriate legislative committee review this comment
☐ Not applicable

F. Prior Communications with Agency

☐ No prior communications regarding this matter
☐ Prior informal inquiry on [__/__/____] — Response received: ☐ Yes ☐ No
☐ Prior formal petition on [__/__/____] — Disposition: [________________________________]
☐ Prior enforcement action — Docket No. [________________________________]
☐ Prior request for the Agency to pass upon rule validity under La. R.S. 49:968(D)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

III. LEGAL ANALYSIS

A. Statutory Authority

The Agency's authority to adopt and administer the rule at issue derives from La. R.S. [________________________________]. Under La. R.S. 49:968(C), a court shall declare a rule invalid or inapplicable if it violates constitutional provisions, exceeds the Agency's statutory authority, or was adopted without substantial compliance with required rulemaking procedures.

[________________________________]
[Analyze whether the regulation is within the Agency's statutory authority. Cite relevant provisions of the enabling statute.]

B. Regulatory Text Analysis

[________________________________]
[Provide a close textual analysis of the LAC provision at issue. Identify ambiguities, undefined terms, or provisions susceptible to more than one reasonable interpretation. Reference the LAC citation format (Title:Part.Chapter.Section).]

C. Compliance with Louisiana Administrative Procedure Act

Under the LAPA, agencies must comply with procedural requirements including:

☐ Notice of Intent published in Louisiana Register (La. R.S. 49:961(A)(3))
☐ 90-day advance notice before action (La. R.S. 49:961(A)(1))
☐ Opportunity for oral and written comment (La. R.S. 49:961(B))
☐ Fiscal and economic impact statements (La. R.S. 49:961(A)(2)(b)-(c))
☐ Small business impact analysis
☐ Environmental impact consideration
☐ Report to standing legislative committee (La. R.S. 49:966)
☐ Publication of adopted rule in Louisiana Register
☐ Proper emergency justification (if emergency rule) (La. R.S. 49:962(A))

[________________________________]
[Analyze compliance with LAPA procedural requirements as applicable.]

D. Fiscal and Economic Impact Analysis

Use the fiscal and economic impact statements required by La. R.S. 49:961(A)(2)(b)-(c) to compare the Agency's analysis with the Commenter's assessment:

[________________________________]
[Provide detailed analysis comparing the Agency's fiscal and economic impact statement with the Commenter's own assessment.]

E. Alternative Approaches

[________________________________]
[Propose alternative regulatory approaches that achieve the Agency's statutory objectives while reducing burden on regulated entities.]

IV. SPECIFIC REQUEST

Based on the foregoing analysis, the Commenter respectfully requests that the Agency:

☐ Adopt the Commenter's proposed interpretation of LAC [____]:[____].[____].[____]

☐ Issue a declaratory order pursuant to La. R.S. 49:977.4 regarding the applicability of [________________________________] to the Commenter's circumstances

☐ Grant a waiver or variance from LAC [____]:[____].[____].[____] based on the following grounds:

• ☐ Compliance would impose undue hardship
• ☐ The waiver would not jeopardize public health, safety, or welfare
• ☐ Alternative means of achieving the regulatory objective are available

☐ Initiate rulemaking to adopt, amend, or repeal LAC [____]:[____].[____].[____]

☐ Withdraw or modify the proposed rule to address the concerns identified herein

☐ Repeal or amend the existing rule under La. R.S. 49:964(A)(2) because it is:

• ☐ Contrary to law
• ☐ Outdated
• ☐ Unnecessary
• ☐ Overly complex
• ☐ Unduly burdensome

☐ Issue guidance clarifying the Agency's interpretation and enforcement approach

☐ Modify enforcement policy regarding [________________________________]

☐ Other: [________________________________]

Proposed Language (if applicable):

Current text of LAC [____]:[____].[____].[____]:

[________________________________]

Proposed revised text:

[________________________________]

V. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

The following documents are submitted in support of this comment:

☐ Exhibit A: [________________________________]
☐ Exhibit B: [________________________________]
☐ Exhibit C: [________________________________]
☐ Exhibit D: [________________________________]
☐ Exhibit E: [________________________________]

VI. REQUEST FOR HEARING / ORAL PRESENTATION

☐ The Commenter joins or submits a qualifying request for oral presentation on a substantive rule within 20 days after publication under La. R.S. 49:961(B)(1), supported by: ☐ 25 persons ☐ governmental subdivision or agency ☐ association with at least 25 members ☐ committee of either legislative house to which the proposal was referred

☐ The Commenter requests an oral presentation under another identified agency-specific provision: [________________________________]

☐ The Commenter does not request oral presentation at this time but reserves the right to do so

VII. CERTIFICATION AND SIGNATURE

I hereby certify that the statements and representations contained in this letter are true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that this comment is submitted in good faith.

Respectfully submitted,

___________________________________________
[________________________________]
[Name — Printed]

[________________________________]
[Title / Position]

[________________________________]
[Organization / Firm]

[________________________________]
[Louisiana Bar Roll No., if applicable]

Date: [__/__/____]

COMMENT PREPARATION CHECKLIST

Before Drafting

☐ Identified the specific LAC provision at issue
☐ Obtained complete text of the rule from Louisiana Administrative Code
☐ Reviewed enabling statute in Louisiana Revised Statutes
☐ Reviewed Louisiana Register Notice of Intent (if proposed rule)
☐ Checked comment period deadline (remember 90-day notice period)
☐ Reviewed Agency's fiscal and economic impact statement
☐ Determined whether this is a comment on a proposed rule or existing rule
☐ If commenting on an existing rule under La. R.S. 49:964(A)(2), identified a statutory ground and used the Office of the State Register portal
☐ Identified any prior declaratory orders on the topic
☐ Verified submission requirements (format, address, electronic submission)

During Drafting

☐ Clearly identified the Commenter and stated the nature of the interest
☐ Cited specific LAC provisions using correct format (Title:Part.Chapter.Section)
☐ Cited enabling statute provisions in La. R.S.
☐ Provided factual context with specificity
☐ Included economic impact data with supporting documentation
☐ Compared Commenter's impact analysis with Agency's fiscal impact statement
☐ Proposed specific alternative language or approaches
☐ Addressed small business impact
☐ If commenting on an existing rule, specified a statutory ground, retained portal-submission proof, and calendared the agency's 90-day response/initiation period under La. R.S. 49:964(A)(2)

Before Submission

☐ Reviewed for accuracy of all legal citations
☐ Confirmed comment is timely filed (before deadline)
☐ Attached all supporting exhibits referenced in letter
☐ Retained copy of comment and proof of submission
☐ Confirmed correct submission address and method
☐ Considered whether to request oral presentation (La. R.S. 49:961(B)(1))
☐ Considered whether to submit copy to relevant legislative committee

TEMPLATE: PETITION FOR DECLARATORY ORDER (La. R.S. 49:977.4)

To: [________________________________], General Counsel / Rules Coordinator
Agency: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]

PETITION FOR DECLARATORY ORDER

Pursuant to La. R.S. 49:977.4 and the Agency's implementing rule, the undersigned petitions the Agency for a declaratory order or ruling as to the applicability of:

Rule/Statute at Issue:
☐ Statute: La. R.S. [________________________________]
☐ Rule: LAC [____]:[____].[____].[____]
☐ Order: [________________________________]

Statement of Facts:
[________________________________]

Question Presented:
[________________________________]

Petitioner's Position:
[________________________________]

Note: Under La. R.S. 49:977.4, declaratory orders and rulings have the same status as agency decisions or orders in adjudicated cases. Judicial review of an adjudication is governed by La. R.S. 49:978.1.

TEMPLATE: COMMENT ON EXISTING RULE (La. R.S. 49:964(A)(2))

To: [________________________________]
Agency: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]

COMMENT ON EXISTING RULE — REQUEST FOR AMENDMENT OR REPEAL

Through the Office of the State Register online portal required by La. R.S. 49:964(A)(2), the undersigned submits this comment on the following existing agency rule. Any direct agency delivery is a courtesy copy and does not replace portal submission:

Rule at Issue: LAC [____]:[____].[____].[____]

This rule is:
☐ Contrary to law because: [________________________________]
☐ Outdated because: [________________________________]
☐ Unnecessary because: [________________________________]
☐ Overly complex because: [________________________________]
☐ Unduly burdensome because: [________________________________]

Requested Action:
☐ Repeal the rule
☐ Amend the rule as proposed below
☐ Initiate rulemaking to address the identified issues

Proposed Amendment (if applicable):
[________________________________]

TEMPLATE: WAIVER / VARIANCE REQUEST

To: [________________________________]
Agency: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]

REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF LOUISIANA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE PROVISION

The undersigned requests a waiver of the following LAC provision:

Rule: LAC [____]:[____].[____].[____]

Grounds for Waiver:
☐ Strict compliance would impose an undue financial burden
☐ The waiver would not compromise health, safety, welfare, or environmental objectives
☐ Alternative compliance measures are proposed
☐ Unique circumstances justify the waiver
☐ The rule as applied is overly burdensome under the specific circumstances

[________________________________]
[Detailed explanation of grounds]

Duration of Waiver Requested:
[________________________________]

Alternative Compliance Measures:
[________________________________]

AGENCY RESPONSE OBLIGATIONS AND TIMELINES

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Louisiana Administrative Procedure Act title and citation (La. R.S. 49:950): https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=103786
• Rulemaking procedure (La. R.S. 49:961): https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=103800
• Emergency rulemaking (La. R.S. 49:962): https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=103801
• Public requests and rule review (La. R.S. 49:964): https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=103804
• Legislative oversight (La. R.S. 49:966): https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=103807
• Judicial review of rules (La. R.S. 49:968): https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=103809
• Declaratory orders (La. R.S. 49:977.4): https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=1297540
• Judicial review of adjudication (La. R.S. 49:978.1): https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=1148681
• Louisiana Administrative Code: https://www.doa.la.gov/doa/osr/louisiana-administrative-code/
• Louisiana Register (Office of the State Register): https://www.doa.la.gov/doa/osr/louisiana-register/
• LDEQ Rulemaking Process: https://deq.louisiana.gov/page/rules-regulations
• LDI Declaratory Orders: https://www.ldi.la.gov/industry/laws-and-bulletins/declaratory-orders

This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You must have this template reviewed and customized by a qualified attorney licensed in Louisiana before use. Legal requirements and agency procedures may change; verify all citations and procedures before submission.