The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana released the PAR Guide to the 2020 Constitutional Amendments on Wednesday.
The guide explains the potential impact of the seven constitutional amendments plus a statewide sports betting proposition that voters will consider on Nov. 3.
The independent, non-partisan review will help voters understand the issues so they may develop their own positions on each proposition.
The PAR Guide to the 2020 Constitutional Amendments provides a review of each item in the order they will appear on the ballot. The guide is educational and does not recommend how to vote. It offers concise analysis and provides arguments of proponents and opponents.
“This year’s lineup will be especially challenging as the degree of legislative debate on this latest set of proposals was as sparse as ever witnessed,” PAR stated in a news release. “Some of the amendments saw no testimony in opposition during the committee hearings. Granted, the spring of 2020 was a strange time. Expediency was seen as a virtue and precautions were needed to prevent the spread of the disease, understandably resulting in fewer participants at the Capitol. But it should be noted that some of these proposed changes for the state’s foundational document were crafted with little or no critical discussion.”
Support for the guide was provided by The Alta and John Franks Foundation and PAR’s membership funds.
To access the guide, visit: parlouisiana.org/publications-by-date/guide-to-the-constitutional-amendments/
The proposed amendments and a proposition on gambling follow.
Amendment 1
“Do you support an amendment declaring that, to protect human life, a right to abortion and the funding of abortion shall not be found in the Louisiana Constitution?”
Amendment 2
“Do you support an amendment to permit the presence or production of oil or gas to be included in the methodology used to determine the fair market value of an oil or gas well for the purpose of property assessment?”
Amendment 3
“Do you support an amendment to allow for the use of the Budget Stabilization Fund, also known as the Rainy Day Fund, for state costs associated with a disaster declared by the federal government?”
Amendment 4
“Do you support an amendment to limit the growth of the expenditure limit for the state general fund and dedicated funds and to remove the calculation of its growth factor from the Constitution?”
Amendment 5
“Do you support an amendment to authorize local governments to enter into cooperative endeavor ad valorem tax exemption agreements with new or expanding manufacturing establishments for payments in lieu of taxes?”
Amendment 6
“Do you support an amendment to increase the maximum amount of income a person may receive and still qualify for the special assessment level for residential property receiving the homestead exemption?”
Amendment 7
“Do you support an amendment to create the Louisiana Unclaimed Property Permanent Trust Fund to preserve the money that remains unclaimed by its owner or owners?”
Proposition
Shall sports wagering activities and operations be permitted in the parish