Louisiana House Bill HB286

Louisiana 2012 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/12/12
• Refer: 3/12/12

Caption

Appropriates funds for payment of judgment in the matter of "Jerry Powdrill, Amy Walker Landrum and Harry Walker, Individually and for the Estate of Glenda Powdrill v. State of La., DOTD"

Impact

By approving this appropriation, HB 286 signifies the state's commitment to uphold court rulings and fulfill financial obligations resulting from litigation. This impacts state laws concerning the handling of legal judgments against the state, particularly regarding how funds are allocated from the general fund to satisfy such judgments. It reflects a legal framework that maintains the authority of judicial decisions and the necessity for state compliance with these rulings.

Summary

House Bill 286 addresses the appropriation of funds for the payment of a consent judgment in the legal case involving Jerry Powdrill, Amy Walker Landrum, and Harry Walker against the State of Louisiana's Department of Transportation and Development. The total amount appropriated is $424,999.99, which is to be drawn from the state's general fund for the fiscal year 2012-2013. The bill is designed to ensure that the state meets its obligations arising from the judicial decision in this case.

Sentiment

Overall, the sentiment surrounding HB 286 appears to be generally neutral as it relates primarily to compliance with legal obligations rather than contentious policy issues. Both supporters of the bill, who emphasize the importance of adhering to judicial mandates, and those who simply acknowledge the procedural necessity have had minimal contention regarding the need to pass the bill. The legislation is more about following through on an administrative action rather than enacting new policies or controversial changes.

Contention

While the bill does not present significant points of contention, the broader implications of regularly appropriating state funds for judgments could raise future discussions about the adequacy of resource allocation in state budgets. Stakeholders might express concerns over the potential impact on funding for other state priorities, particularly if such judgments against the state become more frequent or larger in scale. Nonetheless, the specificity and clarity of this particular bill limit the scope for extensive debate during its passage.