HLS 14RS-1078 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 492
BY REPRESENTATIVE GREENE
SCHOOLS/FINANCE: (Constitutional Amendment) Grants any legislatively established
public school system the same treatment and authority granted to parishes for
purposes of minimum foundation program funding and local taxing authority
A JOINT RESOLUTION1
To amend and reenact Article VIII, Section 13(D)(1) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to2
provide that for certain effects and purposes, any public school system established3
by the legislature shall be regarded and treated as a parish school system, including4
purposes of funding and the raising of local revenues for the support of elementary5
and secondary schools; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the6
electors; and to provide for related matters.7
Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members8
elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of9
Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to10
amend Article VIII, Section 13(D)(1) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:11
§13. Funding; Apportionment12
Section 13.13
* * *14
(D)(1) Municipal and Other School Systems. For the effects and purposes15
of this Section, the Central community school system and the Zachary community16
school system in East Baton Rouge Parish, and the municipalities of Baker in East17
Baton Rouge Parish, Monroe in Ouachita Parish, and Bogalusa in Washington18
Parish, and no others, any other public school system established by the legislature19 HLS 14RS-1078 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 492
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shall be regarded and treated as parishes parish school systems and shall have the1
authority granted parishes. parish school systems. Consistent with this Article VIII2
of this constitution, relevant to equal educational opportunities, no state dollars shall3
be used to discriminate or to have the effect of discriminating in providing equal4
educational opportunity for all students.5
* * *6
Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted7
to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 4,8
2014.9
Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election,10
there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted11
to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as12
follows:13
Do you support an amendment to provide that all legislatively established14
public school systems are included in the minimum foundation program15
funding formula for public elementary and secondary schools and have16
constitutionally granted taxing authority? (Amends Article VIII, Section17
13(D)(1))18
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)]
Greene HB No. 492
Abstract: Provides that any legislatively established public school system is to be included
in the MFP and has the constitutionally granted authority to levy ad valorem taxes.
Present constitution provides for the inclusion of school systems in the minimum foundation
program (MFP) formula for the funding of public elementary and secondary education and
for the allocation of MFP funds to such systems. Requires school systems to levy ad
valorem taxes and establishes the maximum millage rate for such taxes. Specifically
provides that the following community and municipal school systems – and no others – are
treated like other school systems for purposes of the MFP and local taxing authority: the
Central community school system, the Zachary community school system, and school
systems in Baker, Monroe, and Bogalusa. HLS 14RS-1078 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 492
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Proposed constitutional amendment retains present constitution but removes the prohibition
against any school systems other than those specifically named in present constitution from
being treated like other school systems. Instead grants any public school system established
by the legislature the same treatment as other school systems for purposes of the MFP and
local taxing authority.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held Nov. 4, 2014.
(Amends Const. Art. VIII, §13(D)(1))