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)]
Garofalo HB No. 209
Abstract: Provides for legislative fiscal division staff assigned to the Joint Legislative
Committee on the Budget to have access to certain information from state agencies
subject to certain restrictions.
Present law (R.S. 24:654) requires all agencies, boards, commissions, and departments of the
state, whether budget or nonbudget units, and of any of its political subdivisions, including the
Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association as created by present law (R.S. 22:2056 et seq.), to
assist the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget in its work and furnish such information,
reports, aid, services, and assistance as may be requested by the committee, all without any cost
or charge of any nature to the committee.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally provides that the specified materials and
resources may be requested by legislative fiscal division staff assigned to the committee on
matters related to the budget. Adds books, records, and files to the materials that must be
furnished upon request. Requires all such resources and materials to be furnished in a timely and
cooperative manner.
Proposed law additionally authorizes the legislative fiscal division staff assigned to the
committee to inspect all records and matters related to the budget which are classified as
confidential by any of the laws of the state, but requires that the confidentiality of such records be
maintained, except for the purpose of developing general statistics and program evaluations of
the operations of state agencies and policies of the state. Provides that under no circumstances
shall the legislative fiscal division staff share any records which are classified as confidential by
any of the laws of the state with any individual, including the elected members of the La.
Legislature. Proposed law provides that the ability to inspect confidential records shall not apply
to those confidential records as provided in present law (R.S. 44:22) relative to economic
development negotiations or those confidential records as provided in present law (R.S. 46:1071-
1076), relative to hospital service districts.
(Amends R.S. 24:654) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs
to the original bill.
1. Removes provisions of proposed law relative to the power and authority of legislative
fiscal division staff to inspect and make copies of certain materials pertaining to the
function of the legislature, relative to determining who is considered legislative fiscal
division staff, and relative to the manner in which materials must be provided
pursuant to proposed law.
2. Provides instead relative to legislative fiscal division staff assigned to the Joint
Legislative Committee on the Budget authorizing such staff to request certain
materials and resources specified in present law on matters related to the budget.
3. Adds books, records, and files to the materials specified in present law that must be
furnished upon request of the committee or legislative fiscal division staff and
requires all such resources and materials to be furnished in a timely and cooperative
manner.
4. Authorizes the legislative fiscal division staff assigned to the committee to inspect
confidential records, but requires that the confidentiality of such records be
maintained, except for the purpose of developing general statistics and program
evaluations of the operations of state agencies. Provides that under no circumstances
shall the legislative fiscal division staff share any records which are classified as
confidential.
House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill.
1. Restricts the power of the legislative fiscal division staff to examine confidential
records to records and matters related to the budget.
2. Provides that the provision to inspect confidential records shall not apply to records
regarding economic development negotiations made confidential pursuant to present
law nor to certain records related to market strategies and strategic plans of hospital
service districts made confidential pursuant to present law.
3. Further authorizes the use of the confidential information to develop general statistics
and program evaluations of policies of the state.