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)]
HB 169 Original 2015 Regular Session Henry
Abstract: Requires each department, agency, official, employee, or other entity of state government
to promptly make available all information requested by the legislature.
Proposed law requires, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, each department, agency, official,
employee, or other entity of state government to promptly make available all information requested
by the legislature and to cooperate with the legislature by providing any and all information the
legislature deems necessary to assist the legislature to perform and discharge its powers, functions,
and duties. Prohibits the invoking of any privilege or other impediment to deny the provision of the
requested information. Provides that confidential or privileged information retains its status and
requires the person or entity providing such information to clearly mark it. Prohibits the legislature
from disclosing such information to any person outside the legislature and restricts its use to analysis,
compilation of general statistical data, oversight, program evaluation, and policy development.
Specifies that any information provided to the legislature shall be without cost or charge. Defines
"legislature" as the legislature, either house of the legislature, any standing or statutory committee
of the legislature or either house of the legislature, a member of the legislature, the legislative fiscal
office, the legislative auditor's office, and any officer or full-time employee thereof.
Proposed law further provides that if the information is not timely provided either by refusal to
provide the information or by the passage of five days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal
public holidays, from the date of the request, the appropriate legislative officer shall institute
proceedings for the issuance of a writ of mandamus to compel the production of the information in
the district court for the parish where the state capitol is located. Defines "appropriate legislative
officer" for such purposes.
Proposed law further recognizes the limitation on the information in the Public Records Law.
(Amends R.S. 44:4.1(B)(13); Adds R.S. 24:15)