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 498 Reengrossed 2020 Regular Session Emerson
Abstract: Requires licensing boards to waive fees to applicants who meet certain criteria and to
offer payment plans.
Proposed law requires licensing boards to waive certain fees for applicants who meet either of the
following criteria:
(1)Receiving public assistance.
(2)Earning less than 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, unless the applicant has been
in an undergraduate or graduate school full time and therefore unable to work.
Proposed law requires licensing boards to inform applicants that they may be eligible for a fee waiver
by placing notification on the application, and to provide instructions on how the applicant can
request further information.
Proposed law requires licensing boards to offer payment plans to all qualified applicants.
Proposed law stipulates that fees paid by the payment plans are not to exceed the amount of fees
charged for applicants paying the full price of exam or licensing.
Proposed law requires an individual who has been provided a payment plan to pay the account in full
within 12 months of the first scheduled payment; failure to remit payment in full within the 12-
month period may result in denial of license renewal for the individual.
Proposed law only applies to licensing agencies who directly administer their own examinations.
Effective June 30, 2021.
(Adds R.S. 37:23.4)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Commerce to the original bill:
1. Add an exception for applicants who have been in an undergraduate or graduate school full time and unable to work.
2. Require the licensing board to place notification on their application, in order to make
applicants aware that they may qualify for a fee waiver.
3. Require applicants who are on a payment plan to pay off the account within 12 months
of the initial scheduled payment or risk being denied a renewal of their license.
4. Limit the applicability of the proposed law to licensing boards who directly administer
their own examinations.
5. Add an effective date of June 30, 2021.
6. Make technical changes.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Make technical changes.