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 478 Engrossed 2018 Regular Session Bacala
Abstract: Dedicates, in increments beginning in FY 2020-2021, sales tax on motor vehicles into
the Highway Capacity Fund for highway projects funded on a cost-benefit analysis.
Present law provides for the deposit of the amount of certain mineral revenues received by the state
into the Transportation Trust Fund. Present law provides that the money shall come from the avails
of the state sales and use tax on motor vehicles.
Proposed law retains the dedication of mineral revenues in present law but deletes reference to the
avails of the state sales and use tax on motor vehicles.
Proposed law creates the Highway Capacity Fund as a special treasury fund and dedicates a portion
of the avails of the state sales and use tax on motor vehicles to the Highway Capacity Fund as
follows:
Percent Fiscal Year
20% 2020-2021
40% 2021-2022
60% 2022-2023
80% 2023-2024
100% 2024-2025 and thereafter
Proposed law prohibits the monies in the Highway Capacity Fund from being used for operating
costs of the Dept. of Transportation and Development (DOTD) or to be appropriated to state police
and allocates monies in the fund on a cost-benefit basis for projects as follows:
Percent rangePurpose
25-50% Projects with a total cost of $200 million or more
25-50% Projects with a total cost of less than $200 million
25-50% Safety projects
<=10% Economic development projects
Proposed law requires DOTD to develop guidelines and formulas for the cost-benefit analysis for
review and approval of the Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works, and
provides for DOTD to begin letting projects on the approved list by July 1, 2020. Further requires
DOTD to review the cost-benefit analysis guidelines and formulas for review and approval by the
Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works every four years. Effective July 1, 2018.
(Amends R.S. 47:481 and R.S. 48:77)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Appropriations to the original
bill:
1. Change the oversight committee from the Joint Highway Priority Construction
Committee to the Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works.
2. Change the dates for submission of guidelines and lists of recommended projects to the
oversight committee.