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 261 Original 2019 Regular Session Hollis
Abstract: Expands the applicability of laws pertaining to local inspectors general and local ethics
entities and authorizes a parish inspector general to investigate political subdivisions in the
parish and officials receiving funds from the parish.
Present law provides that New Orleans and East Baton Rouge and Jefferson parishes may designate
a local ethics entity, such as an ethics review board or office of inspector general, that it creates as
a law enforcement agency and may thereby confer upon the local ethics entity all investigative
powers and privileges appurtenant to a law enforcement agency under state law, including access to
information maintained for the use of law enforcement personnel and any information contained in
the criminal history record and identification file of the La. Bureau of Criminal Identification and
Information. Further authorizes such an entity to make investigations and examinations, to gather
evidence in any matter in any legally appropriate manner, to administer oaths and take the testimony
of those sworn, and to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of public and private
records by issuing a subpoena.
Proposed law retains present law and makes it applicable to any parish or municipality with a home
rule charter. Provides, however, that present law and proposed law apply to an inspector general
only if the position is created in the home rule charter.
Present law authorizes inspectors general and other ethics entities to examine, review, audit, inspect,
and investigate the records and other documents and information of:
(1)Entities of the local governmental subdivision.
(2)Entities receiving funds through or for the benefit of the local governmental subdivision,
including any officer, employee, elected official, department, agency, board, commission,
public benefit corporation, quasi public agency, or body of the municipality or parish.
(3)Contractors, subcontractors, and licensees of the municipality or parish.
(4)Applicants for certification of eligibility for a contract or program.
(5)Parish and municipal governing authorities.
(6)Districts, boards, and commissions created by the parish or municipality. (7)Independently elected parish public officials whose offices receive funds from the parish or
municipality.
Proposed law retains present law and further authorizes a parish inspector general to examine,
review, audit, inspect, and investigate the records and other documents and information of:
(1)Political subdivisions with a jurisdiction wholly contained within the parish.
(2)The offices of officials that receive parish funds.
Proposed law authorizes a parish or municipality to dedicate to the funding of its inspector general
any revenue saved or recovered as a result of the discovery by the inspector general of fraud, waste,
or inefficiency in the operations of an entity.
(Amends R.S. 33:9611(A)(1), 9612, and 9613(D)(1); Adds R.S. 33:9611(A)(3) and 9613(D)(4) and
(H))