RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 445 (HB 62) 2019 Regular Session Steve Carter
Existing constitution provides for appropriation of one-third of all monies received as a result
of the Master Settlement Agreement of tobacco litigation, which are deposited into the
Millennium Trust, and one-third of the investment earnings on such money to be credited to
the Education Excellence Fund for certain schools. Provides for appropriations from the
Education Excellence Fund as follows:
(1)15% shall be appropriated to the state superintendent of education for distribution to
private elementary and secondary schools approved by the State Bd. of Elementary
and Secondary Education (BESE).
(2)Appropriations to the La. School for the Deaf, La. School for the Visually Impaired,
La. School for Math, Science & Arts, the La. Special Education Center, the New
Orleans Center for Creative Arts, and the Louis Armstrong High School for the Arts
shall be $75,000 plus the average per pupil amount paid to public schools.
(3)Appropriations equal to the average per pupil amount paid to public schools are
authorized for certain charter schools and alternative schools.
(4)All remaining monies shall be appropriated for each city, parish, and other local
school system on a pro rata basis based on the ratio of the student population of that
school or school system to that of the total state student population.
Existing constitution requires each recipient school or school system to prepare and submit
to the Dept. of Education a prioritized plan for expenditure of funds it expects to receive
from the Education Excellence Fund. Prohibits funds from being distributed to a school or
school system until its plan has been approved by the department and by the legislature.
Existing constitution requires that amounts appropriated from the Education Excellence Fund
which remain in the state treasury shall remain to the credit of the recipient school or school
system at the close of each fiscal year, along with investment earnings.
Proposed constitutional amendment adds that the La. Educational Television Authority shall
receive an appropriation of $75,000. Proposed constitutional amendment further adds that
the Thrive Academy shall receive an appropriation of $75,000 plus the average per pupil
amount paid to public schools and authorizes appropriations equal to the average per pupil
amount paid to public schools for laboratory schools approved by BESE and operated by
public postsecondary education institutions.
Proposed constitutional amendment changes the recipient of the Education Excellence Fund
from a school or school system to an entity.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held Oct. 12, 2019.
(Amends Const. Art. VII, §10.8(C)(3)(b), (c), and (g); Repeals Const. Art. VII,
§10.8(C)(3)(d))