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 273 Original 2020 Regular Session Edmonds
Abstract: Authorizes city, parish, and other local public school boards to retain an administrative
fee of up to 3% of payroll withholdings 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 an employee of a school board may authorize the 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 10% of employees, whichever is less, 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. 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 school boards to retain an administrative fee of up
to 3% of the amount to be remitted and requires each board to apply the fee uniformly to all
organizations of teachers or other school employees. 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, and 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, 2020.
(Amends R.S. 17:438 and R.S. 42:456(A)(1))