Louisiana 2015 2015 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HB793 Comm Sub / Analysis

                    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 793 Original	2015 Regular Session	Fannin
Abstract: Provides for Revenue Sharing Fund and its distribution for FY 2015-2016.
Paragraphs (1) through (8) of this digest contain no changes from FY 2014-2015 and only restate the
general provisions of last year's distribution; all changes for FY 2015-2016 are contained in
Paragraph (9) of this digest.
(1)Provides for the annual allocation and distribution of the state revenue sharing fund in the
amount of $90,000,000 for FY 2015-2016.  The parish allocation is determined by the
parish's percentage of the total state population (80% of the revenue sharing fund) and the
parish's percentage of the total number of homesteads in the state (20% of the revenue
sharing fund).
(2)Requires the state treasurer to remit the total parish allocation in three allotments no later
than Dec. 1, March 15, and May 15, and further requires the sheriff to distribute such funds
to the tax recipient bodies within 15 days after receipt.  Authorizes the sheriff to distribute
the first payment based on the previous year pending receipt of the current tax rolls and
requires adjustments on the final two payments. 
(3)The constitution mandates payment, on a first priority basis from the parish allocation, of the
sheriff's commission, retirement systems' deductions, and reimbursement to eligible tax
recipient bodies for ad valorem taxes lost as a result of the homestead exemption; any monies
remaining in the parish allocation after such payments are made are referred to as "excess
funds" and are distributed on the basis of a local formula contained in the Act.
(4)Provides that in any parish which had excess funds in 1977, except East Carroll, the amount
available for the reimbursement of homestead exemption losses shall be limited to the
amount used for that purpose in 1977, adjusted by the percentage by which the number of
homesteads in the parish increased from 1977 to 2014.  Prohibits participation of new
millages levied after Jan. 1, 1978, unless authorized to participate on the same pro rata basis
by the local legislative delegation.
(5)Prohibits general obligation bond millages from participating in revenue sharing and restates
the constitutional mandate that the issuing authority levy sufficient millage on all taxable
property to pay annual debt requirements.  Excepts Sabine Parish with operation and
maintenance millages having first priority over bond millages, excepts Natchitoches Parish
with maintenance and bond millages sharing pro rata, excepts the BREC Capital Improvement Tax in East Baton Rouge Parish, and excepts all bonds in Bossier Parish.
(6)Requires that all local distribution authorities file with the state treasurer all information
necessary for the computation and verification of amounts due the eligible taxing bodies, and
provides that no funds shall be distributed prior to receipt of such information.  Directs the
state treasurer and sheriff to pay to a recipient any earnings received from the investments
of the parish allocation.
(7)Retains all prior authorized participations from Act No. 805 of the 2014 R.S.
(8)The population shall be determined by the LSU AgCenter, Department of Agricultural
Economics and Agribusiness, under the most recent federal-state cooperative program for
local population estimates. 
(9)The listing below contains every parish with any change and includes all new tax recipient
bodies and millages authorized to share in their respective parishes:
Jefferson Parish:
Consolidated Waterworks District No. 1--3.54 mills/October 19, 2013
Consolidated Sewerage District No. 1--3.58 mills/October 19, 2013