As used in this Chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as follows:

            (1) “Authority” means a parish or municipality, or both, authorized by law to perform governmental functions and any special district created for the purpose of drainage and/or flood control.

            (2) “Bond commission” means the State Bond Commission or any other entity authorized to approve and/or issue bonds for a municipality, including without limitation, the Board of Liquidation, City Debt, which is the appropriate bond commission for the city of New Orleans and the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans.

            (3) “Committee” means the Joint Legislative Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

            (4) “Council” means the Legislative Audit Advisory Council.

            (5) “Engineering activities” means functions which may include, but not be limited to, dams, reservoirs, levees, dikes, floodwalls, diversions, channel alterations such as snagging and channel straightening, on site detention, spillways, and land treatment.

            (6) “Evaluation committee” means the Flood Control Project Evaluation Committee.

            (7) “Municipal drainage authority” means the city of New Orleans and any special district or board located in such municipality, including but not limited to the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, created for the purpose of drainage and/or flood control.

            (8) “Office” means the office of engineering of the Department of Transportation and Development.

            (9) “Program” means the flood control system which may include, but not be limited to, floodproofing, waterproofing, ring dikes, relocation assistance, information programs, formulation of codes, and engineering studies.

            (10) “Project” means a program or engineering activity, either new or continuing, exclusive of modifications to drainage structures located within state highway rights-of-way, that will be planned and implemented with the primary goal being the reduction of existing flood damages.

            (11) “Rural grant opportunity authority” means a municipality with a population of fewer than five thousand people or a parish with a population of fewer than fifty thousand people located in a rural area.

            (12) “Rural Grant Opportunity Program” means a mechanism for a rural grant opportunity authority located in a rural area that lacks the financial ability to satisfy the local match requirements to participate in the Statewide Flood Control Program.

            (13) “State highway right-of-way” means a right-of-way for highway purposes acquired by the state in full ownership or by servitude or easement and on which is located a roadway which is included in the state highway system.

            Added by Acts 1982, No. 351, §1; Acts 1983, No. 696, §1. Acts 1984, No. 519, §1; Acts 1995, No. 607, §1, eff. June 18, 1995; Acts 1999, No. 999, §1, eff. July 9, 1999; Acts 2006, 1^st Ex. Sess., No. 6, §4; Acts 2011, 1^st Ex. Sess., No. 5, §1; Acts 2012, No. 753, §5; Acts 2018, No. 384, §1.