HLS 13RS-790 ENGROSSED
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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. 421
BY REPRESENTATIVE PONTI
CONTRACTORS: Adds a fee at license renewal for contractors dedicated to certain schools
of construction management or construction technology
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 37:2156(C)(3), relative to contractor license renewal fees; to2
provide for an additional fee; to provide for an option to not participate; to provide3
for dedication and allocation of the fee; to provide for distribution to accredited4
public university or community college schools of construction management or5
construction technology; and to provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 37:2156(C)(3) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:8
ยง2156. Unexpired licenses; fees; renewals9
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C.11
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(3)(a) The board shall include on each license renewal form issued to a13
contractor an optional election whereby the contractor may choose to donate14
additional funds to a specified public university or community college foundation15
within Louisiana that offers an accredited, degreed program in the field of16
construction management. Any such donated funds received by the board shall be17
remitted to the foundation chosen by the contractor. Any such donated funds18
received by the community college foundation shall be used solely for the benefit of19
their construction management programs. The board shall assess on each license20 HLS 13RS-790 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 421
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are additions.
renewal issued to a contractor, an additional fee of one hundred dollars per year to1
be dedicated and allocated to any public university or community college school of2
construction management or construction technology which is accredited by either3
the American Council for Construction Education or the Accreditation Board for4
Engineering and Technology. The board shall include on each license renewal form5
issued to a contractor an optional election whereby the contractor may choose to not6
participate in the remission of the additional one hundred dollar dedication fee.7
(b) The board shall provide by rule for accounting and remittance of8
donations to the appropriate university or community college foundation. Each9
January, each accredited public university or community college school of10
construction management or construction technology shall report to the board the11
number of graduates from its school of construction management or construction12
technology from the previous calendar year.13
(c) For purposes of this Paragraph, "foundation" shall mean any private14
nonprofit corporation which supports public higher education institutions as defined15
by R.S. 17:3390. Any and all funds collected pursuant to this Paragraph shall be16
disbursed to the accredited public university or community college schools of17
construction management or construction technology by August first of each year18
upon completion of the annual audit of the board. The funds shall be used by the19
accredited public university or community college schools of construction20
management or construction technology solely for the benefit of their program and21
such use shall be approved by the industry advisory council or board for the22
program. The funds collected pursuant to this Paragraph shall be in addition to any23
other monies received by such schools and are intended to supplement and not24
replace, displace, or supplant any other funds received from the state or from any25
other source. Any school of construction management or construction technology26
that experiences a decrease in the funding appropriated to them by the accredited27
public university or community college to a level that falls below the amount of28
funding received in the 2012 school year, unless such decrease is due to an across-29 HLS 13RS-790 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 421
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are additions.
the-board reduction required of all other schools or programs within the university1
or college, shall be ineligible for participation under the provisions of this Paragraph,2
and the monies from the fund for such school of construction management or3
construction technology shall be redistributed on a pro rata basis to all other4
accredited and eligible schools.5
(d) The funds collected pursuant to this Subsection shall be distributed as6
follows:7
(i) One-half on a pro rata basis to each accredited public university or8
community college school of construction management or construction technology.9
(ii) One-half pro rata to each accredited public university school of10
construction management or construction technology based on the total number of11
graduates from the previous calendar year from each school as reported to the board.12
(e) No funds shall be allocated to any public university or community13
college school of construction management or construction technology that does not14
maintain current and active accreditation as required by this Paragraph.15
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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)]
Ponti HB No. 421
Abstract: Adds a license renewal fee for certain contractors dedicated to public university
and community college schools of construction management or construction
technology, with an ability of the contractor to choose not to participate in the
remission.
Present law provides for renewal of licenses for contractors. Allows for the licensing board
for contractors to include on each license renewal form an optional election to allow for the
donation of additional funds to a specified public university or community college
foundation, which shall be remitted to the chosen foundation to be used solely for
construction management programs.
Proposed law deletes present law with regard to optional donations and instead requires the
board to assess on each license renewal for contractors an additional fee of $100 per year to
be dedicated to public university or community college schools of construction management
or construction technology. Requires the board to include an optional election of the
renewal form whereby the contractor may choose to not participate in the remission of the
additional fee. HLS 13RS-790 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 421
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are additions.
Proposed law further requires the schools to report to the board the number of graduates
from the previous calendar year. Requires the disbursement of the funds collected to be by
Aug. 1 of each year upon completion of the annual audit of the board.
Proposed law further requires that the funds be used solely for the benefit of the accredited
public university or community college schools of construction management or construction
technology and requires the use of the fund to be approved by the industry advisory council
or board of the school. Provides that the funds shall be in addition to any other monies
received by such schools. Provides that should the funding level of the schools fall below
the amount of funding received in the 2012 school year, the school shall be ineligible to
receive monies from the fund, unless such decrease is due to an across-the-board reduction
required of all other schools within the university or community college. Distributes the
funds 1/2 pro rata to each accredited public university and community college school and
1/2 pro rata to each public university school based on the total number of graduates from the
previous year as reported to the board by each school.
Proposed law requires the schools to be accredited by either of two national accreditation
boards and requires the schools to maintain accreditation in order to receive funding.
(Amends R.S. 37:2156(C)(3))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Commerce to the original
bill.
1. Requires the board to include an optional election of the renewal form whereby
the contractor may choose to not participate in the remission of the additional
fee.
2. Requires the disbursement of the funds collected to be by Aug. 1 of each year
upon completion of the annual audit of the board.
3. Requires the use of the fund to be approved by the industry advisory council or
board of the school.
4. Allows for participation by a school when the funding level of the schools fall
below the amount of funding received in the 2012 school year if such decrease
is due to an across-the-board reduction required of all other schools within the
university or community college.