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)]
HCR 90 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Foil
Proposed concurrent resolution creates the Constitutional Convention Study Commission to make
necessary studies and analysis to examine the feasibility and advisability of calling a constitutional
convention to revise the Constitution of La.
(1)Provides that the commission be composed of 13 members as follows:
(a)Two members of the La. House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the
House of Representatives.
(b)Two members of the La. Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.
(c)Two members appointed by the governor.
(d)Two members appointed by the chief justice of the La. Supreme Court.
(e)A representative of the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center appointed by the chancellor
of the law center.
(f)A representative of the LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business appointed by the dean
of the business college.
(g)A representative of the Southern University Law Center appointed by the chancellor
of the law center.
(h)A representative of the Southern University College of Business appointed by the
dean of the business college.
(i)A representative of the Public Affairs Research Council of La. appointed by the
council.
Provides that if the appointing authorities provided for in (e) through (h) above do not make
an appointment as provided, the House speaker and the Senate president shall make any
appointment necessary to provide for such required membership, giving consideration to any
recommendations of the appointing authorities.
Requires that, in making appointments, the appointing authorities shall seek to provide diversity in the commission's membership, including diversity of geography, race, and
gender.
Provides for filling of a vacancy in the manner of the original appointment.
(2)Requires that the commission hold its organizational meeting within 60 days after
adjournment sine die of the 2015 R.S. on the call of the House speaker and the Senate
president acting jointly.
Requires the commission, at the organizational meeting, to elect a chairman, a vice chairman,
and other officers it finds necessary and to adopt rules for its own procedure.
(3)Requires the commission to make such studies as it finds necessary or appropriate to
determine the feasibility and advisability of calling a constitutional convention to revise the
state constitution and, if a convention is found to be feasible and advisable, to make
recommendations to the legislature on all matters relevant to the convening and conduct of
a constitutional convention including a plan for the conduct of an effective constitutional
convention which plan shall include but not be limited to:
(a)A policy agenda for the convention which shall include:
(i)Identification of significant policy areas that must be addressed in order to
propose a constitution that will serve the state effectively.
(ii)Alternative proposals for provisions on significant policy areas, together with
explanations and explanatory materials therefor, including multiple optional
approaches and solutions as appropriate to facilitate the work of the
convention in addressing issues.
(iii)Pertinent background material and data relative to significant policy areas.
(b)Background and other materials that the committee determines will be useful to the
work of the convention.
(c)Proposals for elimination of statutory materials from the constitution, together with
recommendations for legislative action relative thereto.
(d)Recommendations for convention organization and deliberations, including the
composition of the membership of the convention, officers and committees, and
significant provisions for rules of procedure.
(e)Timetables for convening, for staff work, for completion of a draft constitution, for
the election to submit the proposal to the voters of the state, and for effectiveness of
the new constitution.
(f)An analysis of staffing and other resources needed and available to address policy
issues and to skillfully draft constitutional language.
(g)Recommendations for budget needs for effective conduct of a convention.
(h)Recommendations for procedures for submission of alternative proposals to the
voters and ballot structure.
(4)Requires the commission to complete its study and determine its recommendations by Jan.
15, 2016, and by Feb. 14, 2016, to submit study results and a report of its findings and recommendations to each legislator and the governor.
(5)Authorizes the commission to utilize the personnel, facilities, and services of the legislative
auditor, the legislative fiscal officer, and the staffs of the House of Representatives and the
Senate and to request and use such counsel, assistance, personnel, facilities, and advice as
may be obtained from any and all public or private sources.
(6)Authorizes the House speaker and the Senate president to each assign one or more full-time
staff persons to provide staff support to the commission.
(7)Requires that each of the following assign employees as follows to provide staff support to
the commission:
Assigned by Number Full-time/ Half-time
Legislative fiscal officerOne Full-time
Director of the La. State Law
Institute
One Half-time
Chief justice of the La. Supreme
Court
One Half-time
Each university that appoints a
member to the commission
One Half-time
(8)Authorizes the commission to make, or cause to be made, studies useful to its purposes
through legislative personnel or in cooperation with any public or private agency and to call
upon departments or agencies of the state for data and assistance. Requires departments and
agencies to cooperate with the commission.
(9)Authorizes the commission to receive grants, donations, or gifts of money or services from
public or private organizations or from any other sources and to create or appoint advisory
commissions or task forces for advice or assistance, composed of representatives of the
public or private sectors.
(10)Provides that expenses directly incurred by the commission may be paid from any funds
available for the purpose and, with the approval of the legislative presiding officers, from
funds available to such presiding officers for expenses of the legislature.
(11)Provides that the commission shall be dissolved upon the adjournment sine die of the 2016
R.S.