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 980 Original 2024 Regular Session Crews
Abstract: Allows teachers or other school employees from certain governing bodies to withdraw
from paying labor organization dues and allows public employees to withdraw from paying
labor organization dues.
TEACHERS AND OTHER SCHOOL EMP LOYEES
Present law allows a teacher or other employee of a parish or city school board to authorize his
employing school board to deduct and withhold from his earnings a specific amount for the payment
of labor organization dues.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law prohibits deductions from a teacher's or other employee's earnings, unless 50 or more
teachers or other employees or 10% of the total number of employees, including teachers, whichever
is less, and such deduction is specifically and voluntarily authorized in writing by the teacher or other
employee.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that present law shall not apply to a city or parish school board operating under
the terms of a collective bargaining agreement applicable to teachers employed by the board.
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law requires a state, parish, city, local school board, or any other governmental agency,
notify the employee of his right to cease payment of member organization dues. Proposed law
further requires the agency to provide written or email notification, at least annually, to the employee
to inform him that he can withdraw from the organization.
Proposed law provides that all authorizations shall be on a form prescribed by the employer and
contain the following statement in 14-point boldface font.
"The state of La. wishes to inform you that you have a 1
st
Amendment right to join or refrain
from joining and paying dues to an association. Membership and payment of dues are
voluntary and you may not be discriminated against for your decision or your refusal to join
or financially support an association. You may authorize your employer to deduct association dues from your salary in the amounts specified in accordance with an
association's bylaws. You may revoke this authorization at any time."
Proposed law requires all authorizations to be submitted to the employer and contain the employee's
full name, position, employee organization, and signature.
Proposed law requires, before starting any deductions, the employer to confirm the authorization by
emailing the employee at his employer-provided email address and the employer shall wait for
confirmation of the authorization.
Proposed law provides that if the employee does not possess an employer-provided address then the
employer may use other means it deems appropriate to confirm the authorization.
Proposed law exempts law enforcement and firefighter services to the applicability of proposed law.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
Present law provides that any state, parish, or city employee may authorize his employing
department, board, or agency to withhold from his salary a specific amount for the designated pay
periods for payment of labor organization dues.
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law provides that upon submission of a written or electronic request to the employer, the
employee shall have the right to immediately cease the withholding of dues from his wages.
Proposed law further provides, upon receipt of a request to withhold, the employer shall immediately
provide written or electronic notification to the labor organization or union of the employee's
decision.
Proposed law requires, upon receipt of the notification required by proposed law, the employer to
cease any withholding of dues from the employee's wages. Proposed law provides that the employee
shall not accrue any further debt to the labor organization or union, and that his right to immediately
discontinue any financial obligation to the labor organization or union shall not be waived.
Proposed law provides that proposed law shall apply prospectively to any new collective bargaining
agreement or contract that is entered into or any existing collective bargaining agreement that is
modified, extended, or otherwise affected by a new or modified memorandum of understanding.
Proposed law requires the employer to provide written or email notification, at least annually,
advising the employee of his right to cease payment of association dues and to withdraw membership
from the labor organization or union.
Proposed law provides that all authorizations shall be on a form prescribed by the employer and
contain the following statement in fourteen-point boldface font. "The state of La. wishes to inform you that you have a 1
st
Amendment right to join or refrain
from joining and paying dues to an association. Membership and payment of dues are
voluntary and you may not be discriminated against for your decision or your refusal to join
or financially support an association. You may authorize your employer to deduct
association dues from your salary in the amounts specified in accordance with an
association's bylaws. You may revoke this authorization at any time."
Proposed law requires all authorizations to be submitted to the employer and contain the employee's
full name, position, employee organization, and signature.
Proposed law prohibits the employer from deducting any portion of an employee's salary for payment
of labor organization or union dues without emailed receipt of confirmation of the employee's
authorization from the employee's employer-provided email address.
Proposed law provides that if the employee does not possess an employer-provided address then the
employer may use other means it deems appropriate to confirm the authorization.
Proposed law provides that provisions of proposed law (R.S. 42:457(B)(4)) shall become applicable
after Aug. 1, 2024.
(Amends R.S. 42:457; Adds R.S. 17:438(E) and (F))