HLS 11RS-117 ENGROSSED
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE BILL NO. 277
BY REPRESENTATIVES WILLIAMS, ARNOLD, GEYMANN, AND JANE SMITH
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS/ST CAPL: Provides for a Ten Commandments monument on the
state capitol grounds
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 49:150.1(H), relative to the state capitol complex; to provide for a Ten2
Commandments monument on the state capitol grounds; to provide that the3
commissioner of administration shall select a proposal and arrange for installation;4
to provide for design, construction, and installation of the monument without cost5
to the state; to provide for content and limitations; to authorize delegation of the6
commissioner's responsibilities; and to provide for related matters.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. R.S. 49:150.1(H) is hereby enacted to read as follows:9
ยง150.1. State capitol complex; allocation of space; maintenance; law enforcement10
officer and firefighter memorial; Ten Commandments monument11
* * *12
H.(1) The commissioner of administration shall permit and arrange for the13
placement on the state capitol grounds of a suitable monument displaying the Ten14
Commandments. The commissioner shall designate the location of the monument,15
which shall be among other monuments, and shall oversee its installation, but design,16
construction, placement, and maintenance of the monument shall be without cost to17
the state. The commissioner may delegate his responsibilities provided in this18
Subsection to the office of state buildings.19 HLS 11RS-117 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 277
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
(2) The commissioner shall accept and consider proposals for the monument1
from private entities and shall select the proposal for the monument that will be2
installed. In selecting a proposal, the commissioner shall consider the3
appropriateness of the proposed design, the demonstrated ability of the responsible4
entity to pay the cost of design, construction, installation, and maintenance of the5
monument, and any other factor he deems appropriate. The commissioner shall6
make such selection by December 31, 2011; however, if he has not received an7
acceptable proposal by that date, he shall select the first acceptable proposal he8
receives after that date.9
(3)(a) The overall dimensions of the monument shall not exceed six feet in10
height by four feet wide by four feet deep including any base on which the11
monument sits.12
(b) The text on the monument shall be the same as that used on the13
monument at issue in Van Orden v. Perry, 545 U.S. 677 (2005), which the United14
States Supreme Court ruled constitutional.15
(c) The monument shall include a plaque that includes the text of "Context16
for Acknowledging America's Religious History" as set forth in R.S. 25:1283.17
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Williams HB No. 277
Abstract: Provides for installation of a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of
the state capitol.
Proposed law requires the commissioner of administration to permit and arrange for the
placement on the state capitol grounds of a suitable monument displaying the Ten
Commandments. Requires the commissioner to designate the location of the monument,
which shall be among other monuments, and to oversee its installation. Permits the
commissioner to delegate his responsibilities in proposed law to the office of state buildings.
Proposed law provides that design, construction, placement, and maintenance of the
monument shall be without cost to the state.
Proposed law requires the commissioner to consider proposals for the monument from
private entities and to select the proposal for the monument that will be installed. Requires
him to consider the appropriateness of the proposed design, the demonstrated ability of the HLS 11RS-117 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 277
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
responsible entity to pay the costs associated with the monument, and any other factor.
Provides that the commissioner shall make such selection by Dec. 31, 2011, unless he has
not received an acceptable proposal by that date, in which case he shall select the first
acceptable proposal he receives after that date.
Proposed law provides that the overall dimensions of the monument shall not exceed six feet
in height by four feet wide by four feet deep and that the text on the monument shall be the
same as that used on the monument at issue in Van Orden v. Perry, which the U.S. Supreme
Court ruled constitutional.
Present law provides relative to public displays regarding the religious history of American
and La. law. Provides that public displays of the Mayflower Compact, the Ten
Commandments, the Declaration of Independence, and Articles I through IV of the
Northwest Ordinances shall be accompanied by a document entitled "Context for
Acknowledging America's Religious History". Specifies the text to be included in this
document.
Proposed law requires that the Ten Commandments monument include a plaque with the text
of the "Context for Acknowledging America's Religious History".
(Adds R.S. 49:150.1(H))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and Governmental
Affairs to the original bill.
1. Specifies that the location of the monument shall be among other monuments.