SLS 17RS-299 REENGROSSED
2017 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 61
BY SENATOR ALLAIN
TAX/AD VALOREM. Constitutional amendment to authorize local economic development
authorities or districts to enter into contracts to exempt offshore vessels from ad valorem
taxation. (2/3 - CA13s1(A))
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION
2 Proposing to add Article VII, Section 21(N) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to ad
3 valorem tax exemptions; to authorize local economic development authorities or
4 districts, or parish governing authorities to exempt offshore vessels from ad valorem
5 taxes; and to specify an election for submission of the proposition to electors and
6 provide a ballot proposition.
7 Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members
8 elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state, for
9 their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to add Article VII,
10 Section 21(N) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:
11 ยง21. Other Property Exemptions
12 Section 21. In addition to the homestead exemption provided for in Section
13 20 of this Article, the following property and no other shall be exempt from ad
14 valorem taxation:
15 * * *
16 N.(1) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Section, offshore
17 vessels for which contracts have been entered into for the exemption from
Page 1 of 3
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 61
SLS 17RS-299 REENGROSSED
1 parish, municipal, and special ad valorem taxes by the authority or district
2 charged with economic development of each parish which contract is hereby
3 authorized. In the absence of the existence of an economic development
4 authority or district, the parish governing authority is authorized to grant
5 contracts of exemption as are provided for in this Paragraph.
6 (2) The contract for exemption shall be on such terms and to the extent,
7 up to, and including the full assessed valuation of an offshore vessel, as the
8 economic development authority or district deems in the best interest of the
9 parish. Prior to entering into each individual contract, the economic
10 development authority or district shall request and receive written approval of
11 the contract, including its terms and an estimated fiscal impact, from each
12 affected tax recipient body in the parish, as evidenced by a favorable vote of a
13 majority of the members of the governing authority of each tax recipient body.
14 Failure to receive all required approvals from the tax recipient bodies before
15 entering into a contract shall render the contract null and void and of no effect.
16 (3) The term "offshore vessel" as used herein means a vessel principally
17 operated within the waters of the Outer Continental Shelf.
18 Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted
19 to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 6,
20 2018.
21 Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at said election
22 there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted
23 to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as
24 follows:
25 Do you support an amendment to authorize economic development districts,
26 authorities, or parish governing authorities to exempt offshore vessels from
27 ad valorem taxation?
28 (Adds Article VII, Section 21(N))
Page 2 of 3
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 61
SLS 17RS-299 REENGROSSED
The original instrument was prepared by Leonore F. Heavey. The following
digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was
prepared by J. W. Wiley.
DIGEST
SB 61 Reengrossed 2017 Regular Session Allain
Present constitution provides that all property is subject to ad valorem taxation unless
specifically exempted.
Present constitution provides for specifically enumerated exemptions including a homestead
exemption.
Proposed constitutional amendment authorizes local economic development authorities or
districts, or parish governing authorities to enter into contracts to exempt offshore vessels
from any or all ad valorem taxation, but only upon a favorable vote of a majority of the
governing authority of all tax recipient bodies in the parish.
Specifies submission of the amendment to the voters at the statewide election to be held on
November 6, 2018.
(Adds Const. Art. VII, Sec. 21(N))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by the Senate
Senate Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill
1. Makes technical changes.
Page 3 of 3
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.