HLS 12RS-143 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE BILL NO. 549
BY REPRESENTATIVE GEYMANN
BUDGETARY CONTROLS: (Constitutional Amendment) Limits the growth of the
expenditure limit
A JOINT RESOLUTION1
Proposing to amend Article VII, Section 10(C)(1) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to limit2
the growth factor used to determine the expenditure limit; to provide for submission3
of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters.4
Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members5
elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of6
Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to7
amend Article VII, Section 10(C)(1) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:8
§10. Expenditure of State Funds9
Section 10.10
* * *11
(C) Expenditure Limit. (1) The legislature shall provide for the12
determination of an expenditure limit for each fiscal year to be established during the13
first quarter of the calendar year for the next fiscal year. However, the expenditure14
limit for the 1991-1992 Fiscal Year shall be the actual appropriations from the state15
general fund and dedicated funds for that year except funds allocated by Article VII,16
Section 4, Paragraphs (D) and (E). For subsequent fiscal years, the limit shall not17
exceed the expenditure limit for the current fiscal year plus an amount equal to that18
limit times a positive growth factor. The growth factor is the average annual19
percentage rate of change of personal income for Louisiana as defined and reported20 HLS 12RS-143 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 549
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are additions.
by the United States Department of Commerce for the three calendar years prior to1
the fiscal year for which the limit is calculated. For the 2013-2014 Fiscal Year and2
each subsequent fiscal year, the growth factor shall not exceed six percent.3
* * *4
Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted5
to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 6,6
2012.7
Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election,8
there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted9
to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as10
follows:11
Do you support an amendment to limit annual growth of the expenditure12
limit to six percent? (Amends Article VII, Section 10(C)(1))13
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)]
Geymann HB No. 549
Abstract: Limits annual growth of the expenditure limit to 6%.
Present constitution provides for an annual expenditure limit and provides that the next fiscal
year's limit shall not exceed the expenditure limit for the current fiscal year plus an amount
equal to that limit times a positive growth factor.
Proposed constitutional amendment retains present constitution.
Present constitution sets the growth factor as the average annual percentage rate of change
of personal income for La. as defined and reported by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce for the
three calendar years prior to the fiscal year for which the limit is calculated.
Proposed constitutional amendment provides that for the FY 2013-2014 and each fiscal year
thereafter, the growth factor shall not exceed 6%.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held Nov. 6, 2012.
(Amends Const. Art. VII, §10(C)(1))