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 671 Original 2018 Regular Session Nancy Landry
Abstract: Authorizes city, parish, and other local public school boards to retain an administrative
fee of up to 3% of payroll withholdings of school employees (used for the payment of dues
to professional organizations). Authorizes state employee payroll withholdings for the
payment of dues to professional associations and organizations.
Present law (R.S. 17:438) provides that a teacher or other school employee of a parish or city school
board may authorize such board to deduct and withhold from his earnings a specific amount for the
payment of regular dues owed by the employee to any organization of teachers or other school
employees. Provides that no deduction shall be made unless 50 or more employees request it and
the deduction is authorized in writing by the employee. Requires that any amount withheld shall be
remitted to the organization designated on a regularly scheduled basis as determined by the
employing board. Specifies that present law does not apply to a parish or city school board operating
under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement applicable to teachers employed by the board.
Proposed law retains present law but authorizes city, parish, and other local public school boards to
retain an administrative fee of up to 3% of such withholdings and requires each board to apply the
same administrative fee to all competing organizations of teachers or other school employee. Limits
exception relative to boards with collective bargaining agreements to only those boards with
agreements entered into prior to July 1, 2018. Provides that any collective bargaining agreement or
other contract entered into on or after July 1, 2018, that conflicts with present law and proposed law
shall be void in its entirety.
Present law (R.S. 42:456(A)) authorizes state employee payroll withholdings for the following:
(1)Mandated federal or state income withholdings, credit unions, garnishments, liens, union
dues, savings bonds programs, qualified United Way entities, health and life insurance
products offered through the Office of Group Benefits, products having state participating
contributions, sponsored by the Office of Group Benefits, that qualify and are offered under
Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code (Cafeteria Plan).
(2)Products offered without state contributory participation that have been evaluated and
approved in accordance with rules and procedures promulgated by the commissioner of
administration.
(3)Donations to any qualified nonprofit community health and human services charities,
coordinated and payable through the La. Assoc. of United Ways, upon written authorization from the employee, that has been evaluated and approved in accordance with rules and
procedures promulgated by the commissioner of administration.
Proposed law additionally authorizes withholdings for the payment of dues to professional
associations and organizations. Otherwise retains present law.
Effective July 1, 2018.
(Amends R.S. 17:438 and R.S. 42:456(A)(1))