HLS 15RS-1080 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 520
BY REPRESENTATIVES HENSGENS, STUART BISHOP, GEYMANN, HARRIS,
HARRISON, HAVARD, HUVAL, JAY MORRIS, PEARSON, POPE, RICHARD,
SCHRODER, AND TALBOT
TAX EXEMPTIONS: (Constitutional Amendment) Prohibits the granting of certain tax
exemptions in certain circumstances
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION
2Proposing to enact Article VII, Section 2.4 of the Constitution of Louisiana, to prohibit the
3 granting of certain tax exemptions in certain circumstances; to provide for
4 submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related
5 matters.
6 Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members
7elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of
8Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to add
9Article VII, Section 2.4 of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:
10 §2.4. Limitations on the granting of tax exemptions, deductions, credits, or rebates
11 Section 2.4. (A) The state shall not grant any tax exemptions, deductions,
12 credits, or rebates to a business or individual, of which the effect would be a decrease
13 in state funds, when the official forecast of recurring state revenues for the next fiscal
14 year is less than the continuation budget for the next fiscal year. The legislature may
15 provide by law for a procedure for establishing the continuation budget.
16 B. The state may resume granting tax exemptions, deductions, credits, or
17 rebates to a business or individual, of which the effect would be a decrease in state
18 funds, when the estimate of the official forecast of recurring state revenues for the
19 next fiscal year is more than the continuation budget for the same year.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-1080 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 520
1 Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted
2to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on October 24,
32015.
4 Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election,
5there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted
6to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as
7follows:
8 Do you support an amendment to prohibit the granting of tax exemptions,
9 deductions, credits, or rebates when the official forecast of revenues is less
10 than the continuation budget? (Adds Article VII, Section 2.4 )
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 520 Original 2015 Regular Session Hensgens
Abstract: Prohibits the granting of tax exemptions, deductions, credits or rebates when the
official forecast of state revenues is less than the continuation budget.
Proposed constitutional amendment prohibits the state from granting any tax exemptions,
deductions, credits, or when the official forecast of recurring state revenues for the next
fiscal year is less than the continuation budget for the next fiscal year. Further provides for
the legislature to establish a procedure for determining the continuation budget in law.
Proposed constitutional amendment authorizes the state to resume granting tax exemptions,
deductions, credits, or rebates when the estimate of the official forecast of recurring state
revenues for the next fiscal year is more than the continuation budget for the same year.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held October 24, 2015.
(Adds Const. Art. VII, §2.4 )
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.