HLS 13RS-52 REENGROSSED
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE BILL NO. 209
BY REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
LEGISLATIVE AGENCIES: Provides authority for legislative fiscal staff to access certain
information from state agencies
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 24:654, relative to the powers of the legislative fiscal division2
staffs; to provide for staff access to information; to provide with respect to certain3
confidential records or information; and to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 24:654 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 6
ยง654. State agencies, political subdivisions; assistance to committee; legislative7
fiscal division staff8
A. All agencies, boards, commissions, and departments of the state, whether9
budget or nonbudget units, and of any of its political subdivisions, including the10
Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association as created by R.S. 22:2056 et seq., shall11
assist the committee in its work and furnish such information, reports, books,12
records, files, aid, services, and assistance in a timely and cooperative manner as13
may be requested by the committee or legislative fiscal division staff assigned to the14
committee on matters related to the budget, all without any cost or charge of any15
nature to the committee.16
B. The legislative fiscal division staff assigned to the committee shall have17
the power and authority to inspect all records and matters related to the budget which18
are classified as confidential by any of the laws of the state but shall be required to19
maintain the confidentiality of such records except for the purpose of developing20 HLS 13RS-52 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 209
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are additions.
general statistics and program evaluations of the operations of state agencies and1
policies of the state. Under no circumstances shall the legislative fiscal division staff2
share any records which are classified as confidential by any of the laws of the state3
with any individual, including the elected members of the Louisiana Legislature.4
Such provisions to inspect confidential records shall not apply to those5
confidential records as provided in R.S. 44:22, relative to economic development6
negotiations, or those confidential records as provided in R.S. 46:1071 through 1076,7
relative to hospital service districts.8
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) HLS 13RS-52 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 209
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
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.