HLS 12RS-3161 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE CONCURRENT STUDY REQUEST NO. 2
BY REPRESENTATIVE PYLANT
ELECTIONS: Requests a study concerning provisions of law regulating political material
and communications
A CONCURRENT STUDY REQUEST1
To the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs and the Senate Committee on2
Senate and Governmental Affairs to meet and to function as a joint committee to3
conduct a comprehensive study of provisions of law regulating political material and4
communications and to report the findings of the joint committee to the legislature5
prior to the convening of the 2013 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.6
WHEREAS, the Legislature of Louisiana has recognized a compelling interest in7
assuring that elections are conducted in a fair and ethical manner; and8
WHEREAS, to this end, the legislature has enacted a number of provisions of law9
regulating political material and communications, including provisions relative to false10
statements about a candidate or proposition, statements concerning the affiliation of a person11
or political committee with a candidate, statements concerning who is responsible for12
political publications, and campaign-related telephone communications; and13
WHEREAS, many of these provisions of law were enacted separately and over the14
course of a number of years; and15
WHEREAS, a number of these provisions are in the Louisiana Election Code and16
provide for criminal penalties; and17
WHEREAS, some of these provisions are in the Code of Governmental Ethics, which18
is enforced by the Board of Ethics; and19
WHEREAS, the scope of these provisions appears to overlap with regard to certain20
activity, although their scope is not clear; and21 HLS 12RS-3161 ORIGINAL
HCSR NO. 2
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WHEREAS, laws that regulate political expression should be as clear as possible1
because such laws involve important rights under the state and federal constitutions.2
THEREFORE, the Legislature of Louisiana requests the House Committee on House3
and Governmental Affairs and the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs4
to meet and to function as a joint committee to conduct a comprehensive study of provisions5
of law regulating political material and communications and to report the findings of the6
joint committee to the legislature prior to the convening of the 2013 Regular Session of the7
Legislature of Louisiana.8
THEREFORE, the Legislature of Louisiana further requests that the joint committee9
specifically solicit input, recommendations, and advice from the following:10
(1) The attorney general.11
(2) The secretary of state.12
(3) The Board of Ethics.13
(4) The Louisiana District Attorneys Association.14
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)]
Pylant HCSR No. 2
Requests the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs and the Senate
Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs to meet and function as a joint committee
to conduct a comprehensive study of provisions of law regulating political material and
communications and to report its findings to the legislature prior to the 2013 R.S. Requests
the joint committee to solicit input, recommendations, and advice from the attorney general,
the secretary of state, the Board of Ethics, and the La. District Attorneys Association.