A.  The regulation of fertilizer is preempted by this Subpart.  No municipality, parish, local governmental entity, or governing authority of any group or association, private or public, having jurisdiction over a specific geographic area shall enact ordinances, laws, subdivision restrictions, or regulations regarding fertilizers that in any way affect the registration, sale, or application of fertilizer, except as provided herein.

B.  Municipalities, parishes, and local governmental entities or governing authorities of any group or association may request that the rules and regulations applicable to the distribution, sale, or application of fertilizer be amended to provide for specific problems encountered in or by the entity, group, or association.  The following provisions shall govern any such request:

(1)  The request shall be addressed to the commissioner.

(2)  The commission shall conduct a hearing.

(3)  The commission shall make a preliminary determination as to the advisability of amending the state rules and regulations and shall transmit its determination to the commissioner.

(4)  The commissioner shall make the final determination as to the desirability of amending the state rules and regulations.

(5)  If the commissioner determines that the rules and regulations should be amended, a rule or regulation consistent with the commissioner’s determination shall be adopted by the commission in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.  If the commissioner determines that the rules or regulations should not be amended, a written notice of the decision shall be provided to the requesting party.

C.  Municipalities, parishes, and local governmental entities may petition the commissioner for approval of an ordinance applicable to the distribution, sale, or application of fertilizer.  The governing authority of a public or private group or association may petition the commissioner for approval of restrictions applicable to the specific geographic area over which the group or association has jurisdiction.  The procedure for obtaining such approval shall be as follows:

(1)  The proposed ordinance or restrictions shall be sent to the commissioner who shall refer the ordinance to the commission for a hearing.

(2)  The commission shall make a preliminary determination as to the advisability of amending the state rules and regulations and shall transmit its determination to the commissioner.

(3)  Upon receipt of the recommendation of the commission, the commissioner shall approve or disapprove the proposed ordinance or restriction.

(4)  Both the commission and the commissioner shall be guided by the provisions of this Section in making their respective determinations.

(5)  The requesting party shall be notified by the decision in writing.

(6)  Any governing authority aggrieved by a final decision of the commissioner shall have a right of judicial review of the administrative process pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act.

D.  Notwithstanding the provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 3:1422, municipalities, parishes, and local governmental entities or governing authorities of a public or private group or association, having in effect, on July 1, 2008, an ordinance or restriction affecting the registration, sale, or application of fertilizer shall submit the ordinance to the commissioner on or before December 1, 2008, for approval pursuant to this Section.  Any such ordinance or restriction received by the commissioner on or before December 1, 2008, shall continue in full force and effect unless the commissioner disapproves the ordinance or restriction in accordance with this Section.  Any such ordinance not received by the commissioner on or before December 1, 2008, shall be void.

Acts 2010, No. 579, §1.