Louisiana 2013 2013 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HR31 Comm Sub / Analysis

                    Champagne	HR No. 31
Existing House Rule (House Rule 6.8) requires the recommittal of certain legislative
instruments including constitutional amendments (Civil Law & Procedure); resolutions
proposing certain studies (House and Governmental Affairs); the Capital Outlay Bill
(Appropriations); the MFP concurrent resolution (Appropriations); special funds
(Appropriations); Senate instruments with a net decrease in fees or a net increase in fees or
taxes of $500,000 or more (Ways & Means); public records exceptions (House and
Governmental Affairs); and provisions to join an interstate compact (House and
Governmental Affairs).
Prior House Rule further required any Senate instrument with an estimated fiscal cost of
$500,000 or more annually in any one of the three ensuing fiscal years as reflected in the
fiscal note or with a fiscal cost which, although not specified, is indicated in the fiscal note
as likely to be $500,000 or more annually in any of the three ensuing fiscal years to be
recommitted to the Committee on Appropriations if reported by another standing committee.
New House Rule instead requires any legislative instrument with an estimated fiscal cost of
$100,000 or more annually of state general funds in any one of the three ensuing fiscal years
as reflected in the fiscal note or with a fiscal cost that, although not specified, is indicated in
the fiscal note as likely to be $100,000 or more annually of state general funds in any of the
three ensuing fiscal years to be recommitted to the Committee on Appropriations if reported
by another standing committee.
New House Rule further requires any legislative instrument that is estimated to cause or
result in a reduction in revenues to the state of $500,000 or more annually in any one of the
three ensuing fiscal years as reflected in the fiscal note to be recommitted to the Committee
on Appropriations if reported by another standing committee and provides that this new
House Rule is repealed effective Jan. 11, 2016.
Existing House Rule provides that the General Appropriation Bill (GAB) shall not be heard
by the Committee of the Whole or considered on third reading and final passage by the
House of Representatives if it is not in a specified form containing specified information
regarding  the number of authorized positions along with each proposed appropriation and
the corresponding number and appropriation for the current fiscal year. Further requires the
appendix to the GAB to include the current and proposed salary, vehicle allowance, and
housing allowance for specified officials. Allows for suspension of these existing House
Rule requirements upon a vote of a majority of the elected members.
New House Rule further provides that if the legislative fiscal officer determines that the
budget estimate as provided by 	existing law (Const. Art. VII, §11(A)) recommends
appropriations out of the state general fund and dedicated funds for the next fiscal year for
health care and for higher education in amounts less than the appropriations enacted for each
purpose for the current fiscal year, the General Appropriation Bill introduced as provided
by existing law (Const. Art. VII, §11(B)) shall provide separate recommendations for
discretionary and nondiscretionary expenditures and the means of financing such
expenditures which are subject to appropriation, excluding recommendations for legislative
expenses and judicial expenses.  New House Rule further prohibits the GAB from being
considered by a committee, by the Committee of the Whole, or considered on third reading
and final passage by the House of Representatives if it is not in the form required by 	new
House Rule.
Effective June 4, 2013.
(Amends House Rule 6.8(F); Adds House Rule 7.9(D); Repeals House Rule 6.8(F)(2))