SLS 15RS-79 ENGROSSED
2015 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 51
BY SENATOR CROWE
FUNDS/FUNDING. Constitutional amendment to authorize limited redirection and transfer
of funds supporting appropriations and allocations from the state general fund and dedicated
funds in certain circumstances. (2/3s-CA7s10(F)(1))
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION
2 Proposing to amend Article VII, Section 10(F)(2)(a) and (b) of the Constitution of
3 Louisiana, relative to the expenditure of state funds; to authorize the limited
4 redirection and transfer of funds supporting appropriations or allocations from the
5 state general fund and dedicated funds, including those constitutionally protected or
6 mandated, to be used for other nonmandatory purposes under certain circumstances;
7 and to specify an election for submission of the proposition to electors and provide
8 a ballot proposition.
9 Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members
10 elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state, for
11 their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to amend Article VII,
12 Section 10(F)(2)(a) and (b) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:
13 ยง10. Expenditure of State Funds
14 Section 10.
15 * * *
16 (F) Projected Deficit.
17 * * *
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SLS 15RS-79 ENGROSSED
1 (2)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this constitution to the
2 contrary, adjustments to any constitutionally protected or mandated allocations or
3 appropriations, and transfer of monies associated with such adjustments, are
4 authorized when state general fund allocations or appropriations have been reduced
5 in an aggregate amount equal to at least seven-tenths of one percent of the total of
6 such allocations and appropriations for a fiscal year or when there is a decrease in
7 the receipt of federal revenues associated with the support of state assistance
8 programs. Such adjustments may not exceed five percent of the total appropriation
9 or allocation from a fund for the fiscal year. For purposes of this Subsubparagraph,
10 reductions to expenditures required by Article VIII, Section 13(B) of this constitution
11 shall not exceed one percent and such reductions shall not be applicable to
12 instructional activities included within the meaning of instruction pursuant to the
13 Minimum Foundation Program formula. Notwithstanding any other provisions of
14 this constitution to the contrary, monies transferred as a result of such budget
15 adjustments are deemed available for appropriation and expenditure in the year of
16 the transfer from one fund to another, but in no event shall the aggregate amount of
17 any transfers exceed the amount of the deficit.
18 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this constitution to the contrary,
19 for the purposes of the budget estimate and enactment of the budget for the next
20 fiscal year, when the official forecast of recurring revenues for the next fiscal year
21 is at least one percent less than the official forecast for the current fiscal year or
22 when there is a decrease in the receipt of federal revenues associated with the
23 support of state assistance programs, the following procedure may be employed
24 to avoid a budget deficit in the next fiscal year. An amount not to exceed five percent
25 of the total appropriations or allocations for the current fiscal year from any fund
26 established by law or this constitution shall be available for expenditure in the next
27 fiscal year for a purpose other than as specifically provided by law or this
28 constitution. For the purposes of this Subsubparagraph, an amount not to exceed one
29 percent of the current fiscal year appropriation for expenditures required by Article
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SLS 15RS-79 ENGROSSED
1 VIII, Section 13(B) of this constitution shall be available for expenditures for other
2 purposes in the next fiscal year. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
3 constitution to the contrary, monies made available as authorized under this
4 Subsubparagraph may be transferred to a fund for which revenues have been forecast
5 to be less than the revenues in the current fiscal year for such fund. Monies
6 transferred as a result of the budget actions authorized by this Subsubparagraph are
7 deemed available for appropriation and expenditure, but in no event shall the
8 aggregate amount of any such transfers exceed the amount of the difference between
9 the official forecast for the current fiscal year and the next fiscal year.
10 * * *
11 Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted
12 to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on October 24,
13 2015.
14 Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at said election
15 there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted
16 to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as
17 follows:
18 Do you support an amendment to authorize adjustments of up to five percent
19 of constitutionally protected and mandated allocations and appropriations if
20 aggregate reductions of seven-tenths of one percent of allocations and
21 appropriations from the state general fund have been made or when there is
22 a decrease in the receipt of federal revenues associated with the support of
23 state assistance programs; to authorize, for the purposes of the budget
24 estimate and enactment of the budget for the next fiscal year, that if the
25 official revenue forecast for the next fiscal year is at least one percent less
26 than the forecast for the current fiscal year or when there is a decrease in the
27 receipt of federal revenues associated with the support of state assistance
28 programs, an amount not to exceed five percent of the monies appropriated
29 from any funds established by law or constitution shall be available for
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SLS 15RS-79 ENGROSSED
1 appropriation in the next fiscal year for a purpose other than as specified by
2 law or constitution?
3 (Amends Article VII, Section 10(F)(2)(a) and (b))
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jay R. Lueckel.
DIGEST
SB 51 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Crowe
Present constitution authorizes the legislature to establish a procedure to determine a
projected deficit and a method for adjusting appropriations to eliminate the deficit.
Present constitution authorizes the governor, with legislative approval, to reduce up to 5%
of appropriations or allocations from the state general fund and dedicated funds in any fiscal
year in which a deficit is projected and reductions of at least seven-tenths of 1% in
appropriations from the state general fund have already occurred. Further provides that such
reductions to the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) shall be limited to 1% and shall not
be applicable to instructional activities.
Proposed constitutional amendment retains present constitution and authorizes the reduction
in appropriations or allocations from the state general fund and dedicated funds when there
is a decrease in the receipt of federal revenues associated with the support of state assistance
programs.
Present constitution authorizes the legislature for the purposes of the enactment of the budget
for the next fiscal year to reduce the monies appropriated or allocated for mandatory
expenditures or allocations by up to 5%, making those funds available for other,
nonmandatory expenditures if the official revenue forecast for the next year is at least 1%
less than for the current year.
Proposed constitutional amendment retains present constitution and authorizes the reduction
of monies appropriated or allocated for mandatory expenditures or allocations, making those
funds available for other, nonmandatory expenditures when there is a decrease in the receipt
of federal revenues associated with the support of state assistance programs.
Present constitution provides that these provisions shall not be applicable to, nor affect (1)
the Bond Security and Redemption Fund or any bonds secured thereby, or any other funds
pledged as security for bonds or evidences of indebtedness; (2) the severance tax and royalty
allocations to parishes as provided in Art. VII, Sec. 4(D) and (E); (3) state retirement
contributions; (4) the Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund; (5) the Millennium Trust,
except for appropriations from the trust; (6) any money not required to be deposited into the
state treasury as provided in Art. VII, Sec. 9; and (7) the Medicaid Trust Fund for the Elderly
created under the provisions of R.S. 46:2691, et seq. Proposed constitutional amendment
retains present constitution.
Specifies submission of the amendment to the voters at the statewide election to be held on
October 24, 2015.
(Amends Const. Art. VII, Sec. 10(F)(2)(a) and (b))
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.