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 354 Engrossed 2017 Regular Session Thibaut
Abstract: Removes authority of using Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) monies for state police and
deposits new gasoline and fuel taxed into the newly created "Construction Subfund".
Prohibits spending the subfund on administrative costs of the Dept. of Transportation and
Development.
Present constitution establishes the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) as a special treasury fund and
requires that all state taxes levied on gasoline and motor fuels be deposited annually into the fund.
The current state excise taxes on gasoline and motor fuels total 20¢ per gallon. Monies in the fund
are used to provide for construction and maintenance of roads and bridges of the state and federal
highway systems, the Statewide Flood-Control Program, ports, airports, transit, state police for traffic
control purposes, and the Parish Transportation Fund.
Proposed constitution prohibits the use of any of the monies in the TTF from being used by state
police for traffic control.
Proposed constitution establishes the "Construction Subfund" as a special subfund within the TTF
and requires the avails of any new tax levied on gasoline, diesel, and special motor fuels that become
effective on or after July 1, 2017, to be deposited in the subfund for use on direct costs associated
with actual project delivery, construction, and maintenance of transportation and capital transit
infrastructure projects of the state and local government.
Proposed constitution prohibits any monies in the subfund from being used by the Dept. of
Transportation and Development for administrative costs to operate the department.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election to be held
Oct. 14, 2017.
(Amends Const. Art. VII, §27(B))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Appropriations to the original
bill:
1. Change deposits into subfund from avails of new taxes enacted on or after July 1, 2017,
to avails of new taxes effective on or after July 1, 2017. 2. Change the purposes of the use of the subfund to include project delivery and to apply
to state and local transportation and capital infrastructure projects instead of roads and
bridges.
3. Make technical changes.
4. Change ballot language.