Louisiana House Bill HB810

Louisiana 2012 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/12/12
• Refer: 3/12/12
• Report Pass: 5/8/12
• Engrossed: 5/17/12
• Refer: 5/21/12
• Report Pass: 5/29/12
• Enrolled: 6/1/12
• Chaptered: 6/5/12
• Passed: 6/5/12

Caption

Authorizes payroll deductions for nonprofit organizations or associations (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)

Impact

By enacting this bill, the State of Louisiana will allow public employees a new avenue for supporting community services through automatic payroll deductions. This shift is intended to enhance the capacity of nonprofits to gather support and funding for essential services while simultaneously providing employees with a simple and efficient means to make contributions. The effectiveness of the bill may depend on the willingness of public employees to participate and the transparency of the organizations involved in the donation process.

Summary

House Bill 810 aims to authorize payroll deductions for Louisiana public employees to facilitate donations to qualified nonprofit community health and human services charities. The bill explicitly states that these deductions must be made upon written authorization from the employees and that the organizations must be evaluated and approved according to specific state guidelines. This legislative change is positioned to enable public workers to contribute to health and human services directly through their paycheck deductions, streamlining charitable giving processes.

Sentiment

The sentiment around HB 810 appears to be generally positive, particularly among legislators interested in promoting charitable causes and community aid. The passage of the bill through the legislative process without opposition indicates strong bipartisan support for the initiative, suggesting that stakeholders view payroll deductions as an advantageous method for enhancing public engagement with nonprofit organizations. This sentiment reflects a growing acknowledgment of the importance of community health services and the need for sustainable funding sources.

Contention

While HB 810 was passed unanimously with no recorded opposition, potential contention could arise regarding the specific criteria used to define 'qualified community health and human services charities.' Critics may argue that the oversight process could inadvertently limit charitable giving to only those organizations that meet certain regulatory standards, possibly excluding smaller or newer nonprofits that serve valuable roles in the community. Furthermore, concerns regarding the administration of these deductions and the transparency of the funds collected may be areas for future discussion.