Directors of non-governmental agencies statewide are sounding the alarm over a bill currently in the House Appropriations Committee that could have long-term ramifications for their funding. Directors of non-governmental agencies statewide are sounding the alarm over a bill currently in the House Appropriations Committee that could have long-term ramifications for their funding.
House Bill 1101, prefiled by Rep. John Schroder, R-Covington, would prohibit funding requests for non-profits in budgets that project a deficit from the previous year's budget: "No requests submitted may be included within an appropriation bill for a fiscal year in which the official forecast for recurring revenue is less than the official forecast for recurring revenue of the prior fiscal year unless the nongovernmental entity is authorized by statute to receive an appropriation."
If approved, the legislation could affect funding for hundreds of non-governmental organizations that currently rely on state funding; Louisiana is expected to face a more than $3 billion budget shortfall over the next two years, according to some estimates.
To read Schroder's bill, click here.