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)]
Champagne HB No. 148
Abstract: Dedicates state revenues received from violations of federal and state environmental
and water quality laws associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010 to the
Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund.
Present constitution establishes the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund to provide a
dedicated, recurring source of revenues for the development and implementation of a program to
protect and restore La.'s coastal area.
Present constitution provides for allocations of mineral revenues into the fund and provided that
the balance in the fund which consists of mineral revenues from severance taxes, royalty
payments, bonus payments, and rentals shall not exceed an amount provided by law.
Proposed constitutional amendment requires that monies received for violations pursuant to
federal law (Federal Water Pollution Control Act 33 U.S.C. 1321) and present law associated
with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill be deposited and credited to the Coastal Protection and
Restoration Fund for integrated coastal protection efforts, including coastal restoration, hurricane
protection, and improving the resiliency of the La. coastal area affected by the oil spill. Further
specifies that proposed constitutional amendment shall not be construed to affect funds
associated with the Natural Resources Damage Assessment process.
Proposed constitutional amendment provides that the fund balance limitations under present
constitution relative to mineral revenues deposited into the fund shall not apply to deposits made
under proposed constitutional amendment.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election to be
held Nov. 4, 2014.
(Adds Const. Art. VII, ยง10.2(G))