Louisiana HB 556: ETHICS/BOARD: Provides for the assessment of fees by the Board of Ethics and Supervisory Committee on Campaign Finance Disclosure (OR +$201,923 GF EX See Note)

Bill Text

HLS 26RS-849 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 556
BY REPRESENTATIVE CHASSION
ETHICS/BOARD: Provides for the assessment of fees by the Board of Ethics and
Supervisory Committee on Campaign Finance Disclosure
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 18:1505.4(A)(1), (B), and (E) and 1511.4.1(B) and R.S.
3 42:1157(A)(1)(b) and to enact R.S. 18:1505.4(A)(4)(c) and (F) and 1511.4.1(E),
4 relative to fees assessed by the Board of Ethics and Supervisory Committee on
5 Campaign Finance Disclosure; to prohibit the conditional waiver of fees by the board
6 and supervisory committee; to provide for notification of failure timely or accurately
7 file campaign finance disclosure reports; to provide for a delay for the accrual of
8 penalties for failure to file or timely or accurately file campaign finance disclosure
9 reports; and to provide for related matters.
10 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. R.S. 18:1505.4(A)(1), (B), and (E) and 1511.4.1(B) are hereby amended
12 and reenacted and R.S. 18:1505.4(A)(4)(c) and (F) and 1511.4.1(E) are hereby enacted to
13 read as follows:
14 §1505.4. Civil penalties; failure to file; timely and accurate filing; forfeiture
15 A.(1) Any candidate, the treasurer or chairman of a committee, or any other
16 person required to file any reports under this Chapter, who knowingly fails to file or
17 who knowingly fails to timely file any such reports as are required by this Chapter
18 may be assessed a civil penalty as provided in R.S. 18:1511.4.1 for each day until
19 such report is filed, subject to the delays provided in Subsection E of this Section.
20 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.

HLS 26RS-849 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 556
1 (4)
2 * * *
3 (c) For purposes of this Paragraph, a report shall be considered due on the
4 deadline contained in the notice of delinquency provided for in Subsection E of this
5 Section.
6 * * *
7 B. Any candidate, the treasurer or chairman of any committee, or any other
8 person required to file reports under this Chapter who knowingly and willfully fails
9 to disclose, or knowingly and willfully fails to accurately disclose, any information
10 required by this Chapter to be disclosed in the reports required by this Chapter, may
11 be assessed a civil penalty for each day until such information is disclosed by
12 amendment to the appropriate report of such candidate, committee, or other person
13 filed, subject to the delays provided in Subsection E of this Section. "Knowingly and
14 willfully", for purposes of this Subsection, means conduct which could have been
15 avoided through the exercise of due diligence. Such penalties shall be as provided
16 in Subsection A of this Section.
17 * * *
18 E.(1)(a) If a candidate, the treasurer or chairman of any committee, or any
19 other person required to file reports under this Chapter fails to timely file a report
20 required by this Chapter, or omits any information required to be included in the
21 report, or the supervisory committee has reason to believe information included in
22 the report is inaccurate, the supervisory committee shall notify the candidate, the
23 treasurer or chairman, or other person of such failure, omission, or inaccuracy by
24 sending him by certified mail or service of process a notice of delinquency
25 immediately upon discovery of the failure, omission, or inaccuracy.
26 (b) The notice of delinquency shall inform the candidate, the treasurer or
27 chairman, or other person that the report must be filed, or that the information must
28 be disclosed or accurately disclosed, or that a written answer contesting the
29 allegation of such a failure, omission, or inaccuracy must be filed no later than seven
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.

HLS 26RS-849 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 556
1 business days after receipt of the notice of delinquency. The notice shall include the
2 deadline for filing the statement, filing the answer, or disclosing or accurately
3 disclosing the information.
4 (c) The supervisory committee shall inform the candidate, the treasurer or
5 chairman, or other person in the notice of delinquency that failure to file the report,
6 to disclose or accurately disclose the information, or to file an answer contesting the
7 allegation by the deadline may result in the imposition of penalties as provided in
8 Subsections A and B of this Section.
9 (2)(a) If the candidate, the treasurer or chairman, or other person files the
10 statement, provides the omitted information, or corrects the inaccurate information
11 prior to the deadline contained in the notice of delinquency, no penalties shall be
12 assessed against the candidate, the treasurer or chairman, or other person. If the
13 candidate, the treasurer or chairman, or other person files a written answer contesting
14 the allegations prior to the d