A.  The commission is hereby declared to constitute and is declared to be a body politic and political subdivision of the state of Louisiana, as defined in La. Const. Art. VI, § 44 .  The commission is hereby granted all the rights, powers, privileges, and immunities granted to political subdivisions, including but not limited to the following:

(1)  To sue and be sued.  

(2)  To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.  

(3)  To initiate or coordinate research, studies, and gathering of information on the project, including but not limited to the following:

(a)  Engineering studies.  

(b)  Traffic flow and pattern studies.  

(c)  Environmental impact studies.  

(d)  Location of the proposed route.  

(e)  Economic development impacts and benefits.  

(f)  Feasibility of obtaining designation of the project as a National Defense Highway.  

(g)  Utility relocation.  

(h)  Right of way acquisition.  

(i)  Project construction cost/benefit ratio studies.  

(4)  To be designated an official depository for information relating to and about the project.  As such, it is empowered to receive and preserve all information gathered by other parties pertaining to the project.  

(5)  To receive money from any public or private body which may desire to appropriate or donate such funds to be used to defray the expenses of the commission.  

B.(1)  In furtherance of these purposes, the commission is specifically authorized to apply for, receive, and accept from any state or federal agency, or local subdivision of this state, any grant or contribution of either money, property, or other things of value to be held, used, and applied for purposes for which such grants and contributions may be made or for any other lawful purposes that the commission has expressly authorized herein.

(2)  The commission is also specifically authorized to hire such accountants, attorneys, engineers, or other professional and/or scientific and/or other expert advisors as the commission in its discretion may deem necessary and/or advisable in order to carry out its mission.  Said professionals and/or scientific and/or other expert advisors shall be compensated by the commission from funds available to the commission under the provisions of Paragraph A(5) herein pursuant to such agreement as may be entered into by the commission with the hired and/or trained professionals and/or scientific and/or other expert advisors.  The state shall in no way be a party to any agreement executed under the provisions of this Paragraph, and the state shall in no way be held responsible for payment of compensation under the agreements entered into by the commission.  

Acts 1992, No. 214, §1.