HLS 21RS-749 REENGROSSED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 695
BY REPRESENTATIVES SCHEXNAYDER AND Z ERINGUE
LEGISLATIVE EXPENSES: Makes appropriations for the expenses of the legislature for
Fiscal Year 2021-2022
1 AN ACT
2TToo appropriate funds for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 to defray the expenses of the Louisiana
3 Legislature, including the expenses of the House of Representatives and the Senate,
4 of legislative service agencies, and of the Louisiana State Law Institute; to provide
5 for the salary, expenses, and allowances of members, officers, staff, and agencies of
6 the Legislature; to provide with respect to the appropriations and allocations herein
7 made; and to provide for related matters.
8Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. The sum of Seventy-Three Million Six Hundred Ten Thousand One
10Hundred Seventy-Three and No/100 ($73,610,173.00) Dollars, or so much thereof as may
11be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of the state general fund and the sum of Twenty-
12Three Million Eight Hundred Twenty-Four Thousand Nine Hundred Forty-Five and No/100
13($23,824,945.00) Dollars is hereby appropriated out of self-generated funds to defray the
14expenses of the legislature, including the House of Representatives and the Senate, the staffs
15of the House of Representatives and of the Senate, the Legislative Auditor, the Legislative
16Fiscal Office, the Legislative Budgetary Control Council, and the Louisiana State Law
17Institute.
18 Section 2.(A)(1) Out of the total amount herein appropriated from the state general
19fund, Fifty Million Seven Hundred Sixty-Two Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety-Eight and
20No/100 ($50,762,798.00) Dollars is hereby allocated to provide the salary and allowances
21of members, officers, and staff of the House of Representatives, and the salary and
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1allowances for the speaker of the House of Representatives and for expenses of his office,
2including reimbursement for actual expenses as presiding officer and for his service to or for
3the benefit of the House of Representatives, the legislature, the legislative branch of
4government, or the state, as determined by the speaker, and to provide the salary and
5allowances of members, officers, and staff of the Senate, and the salary and allowances for
6the president of the Senate and for expenses of his office, including reimbursement for actual
7expenses as presiding officer and for his service to or for the benefit of the Senate, the
8legislature, the legislative branch of government, or the state, as determined by the president
9of the Senate. These funds shall also be used to pay mileage and per diem of the members
10of the legislature and mileage and per diem expenses of committees; salaries and/or expense
11allowances of officers and employees of the legislature; costs of renovations, maintenance,
12repairs, and necessary additions to the House and/or Senate chambers and other legislative
13rooms; audio-visual systems, information networks, technological enhancements, and
14technical support; printing the bills, journals, and calendars; computer equipment and
15services; library services; provision of accessibility services for persons with disabilities
16during sessions of the legislature and during the interim; and for all other expenses of the
17legislature. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any and all monies
18paid to an employee of the legislature shall be used to determine full-time status and for the
19eligibility and calculation of all benefits, including but not limited to, retirement and
20insurance. This provision shall be remedial in nature and shall not eliminate or reduce any
21current benefits of a legislative employee. In addition to the amounts and limitations
22provided in R.S. 24:31.5, these funds shall also be used to provide an additional two hundred
23seventy-five dollars per month to the total amount available to each legislator for the salary
24of his legislative assistants which shall be obtained and disbursed as hereinafter provided.
25 (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 24:31.5, any legislative assistant
26employed on or before December 1, 2007, may retain the salary they were earning on
27December 1, 2007.
28 (B) Of the sum above allocated to the two houses of the legislature, Twenty-Eight
29Million Nine Hundred Ninety-Eight Thousand Three Hundred and No/100 ($28,998,300.00)
30Dollars is hereby set aside and allocated for the use of the House of Representatives and
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1Twenty-One Million Seven Hundred Sixty-Four Thousand Four Hundred Ninety-Eight and
2No/100 ($21,764,498.00) Dollars for the use of the Senate.
3 (C) The presiding officer of each house shall warrant on the state treasurer in favor
4of the House of Representatives or the Senate, as the case may be, for the allocation herein
5provided, or for so much thereof as may be necessary. The aforesaid warrants shall be paid
6out of the state general fund, and the state treasurer shall pay said warrants by preference
7over all other warrants, except warrants for the salaries of constitutional officers of the state,
8which shall be concurrent with the warrants provided for by this Act.
9 (D)(1) The funds drawn as provided herein shall be deposited in the name of the
10House of Representatives or the Senate, as the case may be, in an approved bank located in
11this state selected by the presiding officer of each house. Payment of per diem and mileage,
12salaries of the members, officers, and employees, and other expenses of the legislature shall
13be made by individual check, payable to the person or firm entitled thereto, signed by the
14presiding officer of the House of Representatives as to disbursements by the House, and as
15to disbursements by the Senate, signed by the president of the Senate. Facsimile or
16electronic signatures may be used; such payment also may be made by electronic funds
17transfer through the automated clearing house and deposited into the account of the person
18or firm entitled to such payment.
19 (2) Copies of legislative documents of the Senate and the House shall be provided
20at fees according to policy and schedules adopted by the secretary of the Senate and clerk
21of the House, jointly, and approved by the president of the Senate and the speaker of the
22House, jointly. Funds derived from the sale of legislative documents of the Senate and the
23House during legislative sessions shall be used to offset the cost of printing the journals and
24calendars.
25 (3) The legislature is hereby expressly authorized to receive and expend any monies
26received as a result of any grants or donations or other forms of assistance as provided for
27in Article VII, Section 9(A)(1) of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974.
28 (E) Any portion of the funds herein allocated to the two houses, any portion of the
29funds previously appropriated or interest earnings on such appropriations and any self-
30generated revenues that are not required for the expenses of the 2021 Regular Session of the
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1Legislature, including printing and all expenses in connection therewith, are hereby
2appropriated and may be used to pay the mileage, per diem, expenses of committees, and any
3other expenses of the legislature during the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year; however, all funds
4remaining unexpended and/or unencumbered shall be returnable to the state general fund on
5or before October 1, 2022.
6 Section 3.(A) The sum of Ten Million and No/100 ($10,000,000.00) Dollars is
7hereby allocated out of the total appropriation from the state general fund made in Section
81 of this Act to the legislative auditor, to pay the expenses of his office, including the salaries
9and expenses of his employees, the costs of equipment, and all other expenses incurred by
10that office in connection with the operation thereof during the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year.
11 (B)(1) The sum of Three Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 ($350,000.00) Dollars
12is hereby appropriated, payable from the state general fund, to establish an agency working
13capital fund to be known as the Legislative Auditor Ancillary Enterprise Fund. Of the funds
14available in the ancillary enterprise fund, the sum of Twenty-Three Million Eight Hundred
15Twenty-Four Thousand Nine Hundred Forty-Five and No/100 ($23,824,945.00) Dollars is
16authorized to be used by the legislative auditor, in addition to the amount allocated in
17Section 3.(A) hereof, to pay the expenses of his office, including the salaries and expenses
18of his employees, the costs of equipment, and all other expenses incurred by that office in
19connection with the operations thereof during the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year.
20 (2) The legislative auditor, in addition to the authority contained in R.S. 24:517.1,
21shall be authorized to receive reimbursement of actual expenses of audits performed on
22federally funded programs, both direct and indirect, and regulatory boards funded primarily
23from fees and self-generated revenues and self-supported enterprise functions for the
24purpose of generating revenue to pay expenses as provided in Section 3.(B)(1) of this Act.
25Reimbursement for audits performed on federally funded programs shall be limited to
26reimbursement authorized by federal laws and regulations.
27 (3) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, including the General
28Appropriation Act, in addition to the authority contained in R.S. 24:517.1 and 517.3, the
29legislative auditor is authorized to allocate and collect from each auditee included in the
30state's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, exclusive of those auditees audited by
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1independent certified public accountants, such amounts as may be reasonably necessary to
2compensate the legislative auditor for services rendered and costs incurred in connection
3with the audit of each auditee. In the collection of such amounts, the legislative auditor
4shall, on or after the first day of July of each year, notify and warrant, without any other
5approval, the state treasurer of the amount allocated to each auditee. The state treasurer,
6upon receipt of said notice and warrant, shall transfer forthwith the amounts allocated to
7each auditee from monies accruing or available to the auditee to the Legislative Auditor
8Ancillary Enterprise Fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the sum of all amounts allocated
9to all such auditees shall not exceed the amount appropriated to the legislative auditor from
10the Legislative Auditor Ancillary Enterprise Fund in accordance with Section 3.(B)(1)
11herein.
12 (C) In the conduct of such functions all receipts of self-generated revenues shall be
13deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the Legislative Auditor Ancillary Enterprise
14Fund and disbursements made by the state treasurer to the extent of the amounts deposited
15to the credit of such fund in accordance with provisions of law governing expenditures. All
16monies from self-generated revenue of the legislative auditor's office shall be paid to the
17Legislative Auditor Ancillary Enterprise Fund and shall be deemed to be available for
18expenditure in the amount herein appropriated, and any increase in self-generated revenue
19over the amount herein appropriated shall be available for expenditure by the legislative
20auditor only on approval by the co-chairmen of the Legislative Budgetary Control Council.
21 (D) The legislative auditor shall warrant on the state treasurer for the monies
22allocated by this Section, and the warrant shall be paid by the state treasurer out of the state
23general fund. The funds so drawn shall be disbursed only in accordance with budgeted
24amounts provided herein and such amendments as may be approved by the Legislative
25Budgetary Control Council.
26 (E) In addition to any portion of the funds herein allocated in this Section to the
27legislative auditor, any portion of the funds previously appropriated to the legislative auditor,
28and all other revenue and funds of the legislative auditor, or interest earnings, are hereby
29appropriated and may be used to defray the expenses of the legislative auditor. These funds
30shall be subject to warrant by the legislative auditor on the state treasurer, in an amount not
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1to exceed the total balance remaining at the end of the previous fiscal year; however, all
2funds remaining unexpended and/or unencumbered shall be returnable to the state general
3fund on or before October 1, 2022.
4 Section 4.(A) The sum of Three Million One Hundred Fifty-Eight Thousand Eight
5Hundred Forty-Nine and No/100 ($3,158,849.00) Dollars is hereby allocated out of the total
6appropriation from the state general fund made in Section 1 of this Act to the Joint
7Legislative Committee on the Budget, to be used solely for the operations of the Legislative
8Fiscal Office and in particular to pay the expenses thereof, including the salaries and
9expenses of its employees, the cost of equipment, and all other expenses incurred by said
10office in connection with the operation thereof during the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year. The
11operations and functions of the Legislative Fiscal Office shall be under the direction and
12supervision of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget. Any contracts for consultant
13services shall be approved by the Legislative Budgetary Control Council and the Joint
14Legislative Committee on the Budget.
15 (B) The legislative fiscal officer shall warrant on the state treasurer for the allocation
16provided by this Section, and the warrant shall be paid by the state treasurer out of the state
17general fund. The funds so drawn shall be disbursed only in accordance with a budget
18approved by the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget and the Legislative Budgetary
19Control Council.
20 (C) Any portion of the funds herein allocated to the Legislative Fiscal Office, any
21portion of the funds previously appropriated or interest earnings on such appropriations and
22any self-generated revenues that are not required for the expenses of the 2021 Regular
23Session of the Legislature, including printing and all expenses in connection therewith, are
24hereby appropriated and may be used to pay expenses of the Legislative Fiscal Office during
25the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year; however, all funds remaining unexpended and/or unencumbered
26shall be returnable to the state general fund on or before October 1, 2022.
27 Section 5.(A) The sum of One Million One Hundred Thirty-One Thousand Four
28Hundred One and No/100 ($1,131,401.00) Dollars is hereby allocated out of the total
29appropriation from the state general fund made in Section 1 of this Act to the Louisiana State
30Law Institute, to pay the expenses thereof, including the salaries and expenses of its
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1employees, the cost of equipment, and all other expenses incurred by said office in
2connection with the operation thereof during the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year.
3 (B) The executive director of the Louisiana State Law Institute shall warrant on the
4state treasurer for the allocation provided by this Section, and the warrant shall be paid by
5the state treasurer out of the state general fund. The funds so drawn shall be disbursed only
6in accordance with a budget approved by the Legislative Budgetary Control Council and
7subject to the budgetary control of said council.
8 (C) Any portion of the funds herein allocated to the Louisiana State Law Institute,
9any portion of the funds previously appropriated or interest earnings on such appropriations
10and any self-generated revenues may be used to pay expenses of the Louisiana State Law
11Institute during the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year; however, all funds remaining unexpended and/or
12unencumbered shall be returnable to the state general fund on or before October 1, 2022.
13 Section 6.(A) The sum of Eight Million Five Hundred Fifty-Seven Thousand One
14Hundred Twenty-Five and No/100 ($8,557,125.00) Dollars is hereby allocated out of the
15total appropriation from the state general fund made in Section 1 of this Act and the balance
16on July 2, 2021 of the fund created pursuant to Section 13 of Act 513 of the 2008 Regular
17Session is hereby appropriated to the Legislative Budgetary Control Council, all of which
18may be used to pay the expenses thereof, including salaries and expenses of certain
19legislative employees, expenses of the Huey P. Long Memorial Law Library, the David R.
20Poynter Legislative Research Library, contracts for professional services, mileage and per
21diem expenses of the interim activities of joint legislative committees created by statute or
22by the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives to which no specific
23allocation of funds is made in this Act, as approved by the council or, jointly, by the co-
24chairmen of the council, the cost of construction, maintenance, repair, improvements,
25renovations, and access to the capitol building, capitol annex building, building for
26legislative use, pentagon courts, and arsenal building, and adjacent grounds, and purchase,
27maintenance, and repair of furniture and equipment, audio-visual systems, security systems,
28information networks, technological enhancements, technical support, and computer
29equipment and services, as jointly approved by the president of the Senate and the speaker
30of the House of Representatives, the cost of equipment, dues to legislative associations, to
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1pay costs to maintain actuarial integrity of the state retirement system affected by the
2inclusion of certain legislative employees, and all other expenses incurred by said council
3in connection with the operation thereof during the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year.
4 (B) The co-chairmen of the Legislative Budgetary Control Council shall jointly
5warrant on the state treasurer for the monies appropriated and allocated by this Section, and
6the state treasurer shall pay their warrants by preference over all other warrants, except
7warrants for the salaries of constitutional officers of the state, which shall be concurrent with
8warrants provided for by this Act.
9 (C) The funds drawn as provided herein shall be deposited in the name of the
10Legislative Budgetary Control Council in an approved bank located in this state selected by
11the presiding co-chairmen of the council. Payment of per diem and mileage, salaries of the
12officers and employees, and other expenses of the Legislative Budgetary Control Council
13shall be made by individual check, payable to the person or firm entitled thereto, signed by
14the presiding co-chairmen of the council. Facsimile or electronic signatures may be used;
15such payment also may be made by electronic funds transfer through the automated clearing
16house and deposited into the account of the person or firm entitled to such payment.
17 (D) Any portion of the funds herein allocated to the Legislative Budgetary Control
18Council, any portion of the funds previously appropriated, or interest earnings on any such
19appropriations, and self-generated revenues are hereby appropriated and may be used to pay
20any expenses of the Legislative Budgetary Control Council during the 2021-2022 Fiscal
21Year; however, all funds remaining unexpended and/or unencumbered shall be returnable
22to the state general fund on or before October 1, 2022.
23 Section 7. In accordance with R.S. 39:51(D), a comparative statement of the existing
24operating budget for FY 2020-2021 and the appropriation for FY 2021-2022 from the state
25general fund is as follows:
26Entity FY 2020-2021 FY 2021-2022
27 (Act 8 of 2020 1
st
E.S.)
28House of Representatives$28,998,300 $28,998,300
29Senate $21,764,498 $21,764,498
30Legislative Auditor $10,483,708 $10,000,000
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1Legislative Fiscal Office $3,158,849 $3,158,849
2La. State Law Institute $1,131,401 $1,131,401
3Legislative Budgetary
4 Control Council $8,557,125 $8,557,125
5Total state general fund $74,093,881 $73,610,173
6 The Legislative Auditor for FY 2020-2021 was appropriated self-generated funds in
7the amount of $23,525,043 and for FY 2021-2022 is appropriated self-generated funds in the
8amount of $23,824,945. The Legislative Budgetary Control Council for FY 2020-2021 was
9appropriated the balance of the technology fund on July 2, 2020 and for FY 2021-2022 is
10appropriated the balance on July 2, 2021 of said fund. The FY 2020-2021 appropriations for
11the Legislature and the legislative service agencies from the State General Fund (Direct)
12were reduced by $12,851,010 and the allocation of said reduction was implemented pursuant
13to a plan adopted by the Legislative Budgetary Control Council.
14 Section 8. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2021; if vetoed by the governor
15and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on July 1,
162021, or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.
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 695 Reengrossed 2021 Regular Session Schexnayder
Provides for the expenses of the legislature and legislative service agencies. Appropriates
$73,610,173 from the state general fund for FY 2021-2022 including the following:
House of Representatives $28,998,300
Senate $21,764,498
Legislative Auditor $10,000,000
Legislative Fiscal Office $3,158,849
Louisiana State Law Institute $1,131,401
Legislative Budgetary Control Council $8,557,125
Total state general fund $74,093,881
Provides for the allocation of funds for salaries and allowances of members, officers, and
staff of the House and Senate. Provides the balance on July 2, 2021 of the fund created by
Act 513, ยง13 of 2008 RS is appropriated to the Legislative Budgetary Control Council.
Appropriates $350,000 from the state general fund to establish the Legislative Auditor
Ancillary Enterprise Fund as an agency working capital fund; appropriates $23,824,945
from the fund, which is authorized to be used for expenses of the auditor's office.
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Retains provisions of existing law allowing legislative assistants who were employed on or
before Dec. 1, 2007, to retain the salary they were earning on Dec. 1, 2007.
Effective July 1, 2021.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Appropriations to the
original bill:
1. Reduce the state general fund appropriation for the legislative auditor by
$483,708.
2. Make a technical correction.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Make a technical correction.
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