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 20 Engrossed 2021 Regular Session Miguez
Abstract: Prohibits use of private funds for election-related expenses by a public official or agency.
Present law provides relative to payment of costs related to conducting elections, including payment
of costs of ballots and election materials, publication of the location of polling places, of renting
polling places, of drayage, of setting up voting machines, of compensating commissioners and
deputy parish custodians, of transmitting election returns, of other election-related costs incurred by
registrars of voters, clerks of court, the secretary of state, and the parish board of election
supervisors. Present law further specifies that election expenses will be shared on a prorated basis
by the state and local governments from funds appropriated to the secretary of state for that purpose.
Proposed law provides that no state or local official or agency responsible for conducting elections
shall solicit, accept, use, or dispose of any donation in the form of money, grants, property, or
personal services from individuals or profit or nonprofit corporations, for the purpose of paying costs
related to conducting elections. Proposed law provides that the prohibition does not apply to the
solicitation, acceptance, use, or disposal of campaign contributions or in-kind contributions by a
candidate for public office for the purpose of meeting expenses related to seeking that office.
Proposed law provides that the prohibition does not apply to donation of private property for use
as a polling place, or to the donation or use of equipment for the restoration and maintenance of
utilities to a precinct or polling place in the event of an outage.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 18:1400.10)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and Governmental
Affairs to the original bill:
1. Add provision that proposed law does not apply to donations for use as a polling place
or utilities at a precinct or polling place.