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.
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.