Louisiana House Bill HCR39

Louisiana 2015 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/13/15
• Refer: 4/14/15
• Report Pass: 4/29/15
• Engrossed: 5/6/15
• Refer: 5/7/15
• Report Pass: 5/27/15
• Passed: 6/1/15

Caption

Requests the House and Governmental Affairs and Senate and Governmental Affairs committees to meet and function as a joint committee to study the advisability of reducing the number of signatures required to have a recall election

Impact

Currently, Louisiana mandates that recall petitions must be signed by at least 33.3% of voters in the district, which is notably high compared to other states with similar provisions. Under HCR39, if the committee finds that the signature threshold can be reasonably lowered, it may recommend new standards which could encourage greater voter engagement in the electoral process. Such changes could empower citizens to hold elected officials accountable more effectively and could potentially reshape the political landscape in Louisiana.

Summary

HCR39, a House Concurrent Resolution, seeks to authorize a joint study committee composed of members from the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs and the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs. The objective of this committee is to evaluate the current signature requirements for initiating a recall election in Louisiana and to determine if these requirements can be reduced. This resolution responds to concerns regarding the accessibility of the recall process for voters and aims to assess whether the existing regulations hinder democratic participation.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HCR39 appears to be generally supportive, as evidenced by a unanimous Senate vote in favor of the resolution. Advocates of reduced signature requirements argue that the current thresholds may be too stringent and serve to deter citizens from initiating recall efforts. Conversely, there may be concerns that reducing these requirements could enable frivolous or politically motivated recall attempts, which opponents of the resolution might emphasize in discussions. Overall, the resolution has sparked interest in examining how recall processes can better serve the electorate.

Contention

Notably, while the bill does not directly alter any existing legislation, it sets the stage for potential amendments to Louisiana's election laws regarding the recall process. There are implications for both electoral accountability and the perceived integrity of the election process that merit careful consideration by the joint committee. The key contention points will likely focus on finding a balance between reducing barriers for voter participation while ensuring that the recall process remains a meaningful check on elected officials.