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St. Martin Parish urges state funding for new Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory facility, pledges local match
Summary
The council adopted a resolution asking the governor and legislative delegation to secure state funds for a new Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory facility, noting the current lab is outdated, prone to flooding and that a local match could be approximately $5 million; the council committed to working with regional partners on a pro rata match.
The St. Martin Parish Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 22-039 on May 3 urging the Governor of the State of Louisiana and the legislative delegation to secure state funding for construction of a new Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory (ACL) facility and committing the parish to participate in a regional match if required.
The resolution, moved by Dean LeBlanc and seconded by Carla JeanBatiste, cites La. R.S. 40:2267.1 and describes the ACL as serving eight southwest Louisiana parishes (Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion). The council record states the current facility is outdated, prone to flooding and in disrepair with recurring HVAC, plumbing and roofing failures that jeopardize scientific equipment, records and the integrity of forensic analysis. The resolution notes that roughly 97% of ACL funding comes from court-imposed costs and that a state-funded replacement would likely require a local "match" of approximately $5 million; the parish committed to working with other regional authorities to secure any required contributions on a pro rata basis.
The council's resolution requests that certified copies be sent to Governor John Bel Edwards and the legislative delegation representing the ACL service area. The motion was adopted by unanimous vote; the meeting record does not specify a timeline or funding source commitments beyond the pledge to collaborate regionally.
