A. The legislature finds that in order to provide for the development of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) determinations and as otherwise may be necessary to protect the waters of the state of Louisiana, it is necessary for the Department of Environmental Quality to increase the fees assessed by the department for the purpose of this Chapter as set forth below.B. In accordance with the provisions of Article VII, Section 2.1 of the Constitution of Louisiana, the department may increase by seven and one-half percent any fee associated with this Chapter and authorized by this Subtitle. The effective date of such increase shall not be before July 1, 1998. The department may further increase by seven and one-half percent any fee associated with this Chapter and authorized by this Subtitle, and such additional increase shall not be effective before July 1, 1999.Acts 1997, No. 1254, §1, eff. July 15, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 303, §1, eff. June 14, 1999.Acts 1997, No. 1254, §1, eff. 7/15/1997; Acts 1999, No. 303, §1, eff. 6/14/1999.