Louisiana House Bill HB340

Louisiana 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/2/22
• Refer: 3/2/22
• Refer: 3/14/22

Caption

Appropriates funds for payment of the consent judgment against the state in the suit entitled Brooke Laborde v. State of Louisiana, through the Dept. of Transportation and Development et al.

Impact

The bill directly impacts state financial management as it allocates a specific amount of state funds to settle a legal obligation recognized by the court. By ensuring that the judgment is paid, the bill aims to uphold the rule of law and state accountability, preventing interest from accruing on the judgment once the bill takes effect. This demonstrates the state's commitment to adhering to judicial findings and avoiding prolonged legal disputes.

Summary

House Bill 340, introduced by Representative Deshotel, focuses on the appropriation of $200,000 from the State General Fund for the fiscal year 2021-2022. This funding is designated for the payment of a consent judgment in the lawsuit Brooke Laborde v. the State of Louisiana, involving the Department of Transportation and Development. The bill outlines the payment procedure and the conditions under which the judgment will be settled, ensuring that it adheres to state legal guidelines.

Sentiment

Overall sentiment around HB 340 appears to be neutral to positive. As a measure aimed at addressing a legal obligation, it is generally viewed as necessary by stakeholders involved in the payments and governance processes. The prompt handling of consent judgments can foster trust in state operations, illustrating good governance practices by addressing judicial decisions in a timely manner.

Contention

While there are no apparent points of major contention associated with HB 340 as it pertains to the specific legal matter of consent judgment payments, there may be underlying discussions regarding the appropriateness of using state funds for such settlements. Questions may arise regarding fiscal responsibility, the transparency of government actions in similar legal cases, and the potential precedents set by approaching such judgments through legislative appropriations.