The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Angela L. De Jean.
DIGEST
SCR 45 Original 2018 Regular Session Carter
Creates a commission to study the feasibility of a constitutional convention and make
recommendations relative thereto.
The commission shall be composed of 19 members as follows:
(1)Four members of the La. Legislature appointed with the concurrence of and the president and
president pro tempore of the Senate and the speaker and speaker pro tempore of the House
of Representatives.
(2)Four members appointed by the governor.
(3)Four members appointed by the chief justice of the La. Sup. Ct.
(4)A representative of the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center appointed by the dean of the law
center.
(5)A representative of the SU Law Center appointed by the chancellor of the law center.
(6)A representative of the Tulane University Law School appointed by the dean of the law
school.
(7)A representative of Loyola University New Orleans College of Law appointed by the dean
of the college of law.
(8)A representative of the Public Affairs Research Council of La. appointed by the council.
(9)A representative of the Council for a Better La. appointed by the council.
(10)A representative of local governmental bodies appointed with the concurrence of the LMA,
the Police Jury Association of La., and the Louisiana School Boards Association.
The commission shall make such studies as it finds necessary or appropriate to determine the
feasibility and advisability of calling a convention to revise the La. Constitution and, if a convention
is found to be feasible and advisable, to make recommendations to the legislature on all matters
relevant to the convening and conduct of a constitutional convention, including a plan for the
conduct of an effective constitutional convention, which plan shall include but not be limited to:
(1)A policy agenda for the convention which shall include: (a)Identification of significant policy areas that must be addressed in order to propose
a constitution that will serve the state effectively.
(b)Alternative proposals for provisions on significant policy areas, together with
explanations and explanatory materials therefor, including multiple optional
approaches and solutions as appropriate to facilitate the work of the convention in
addressing issues.
(c)Pertinent background material and data relative to significant policy areas.
(2)Background and other materials that the committee determines will be useful to the work of
the convention.
(3)Proposals for elimination of statutory materials from the constitution, together with
recommendations for legislative action relative thereto.
(4)Recommendations for convention organization and deliberations, including the composition
of the membership of the convention, officers and committees, and significant provisions for
rules of procedure.
(5)Timetables for convening, for staff work, for completion of a draft constitution, for the
election to submit the proposal to the voters of the state, and for effectiveness of the new
constitution.
(6)An analysis of staffing and other resources needed and available to address policy issues and
to skillfully draft constitutional language.
(7)Recommendations for budget needs for effective conduct of a convention.
(8)Recommendations for procedures for submission of alternative proposals to the voters and
ballot structure.
The commission shall complete its study and determine its recommendations to the legislature and
to the governor no later than January 15, 2019, and shall submit to each member of the legislature
no later than February 14, 2019, the complete results of its study and a report of its findings and its
recommendations based thereon.
The commission shall be deemed dissolved upon the adjournment sine die of the 2019 RS of the
legislature.