EXECUTIVE ORDER MJF 00-14

Executive Department-Spending Freeze

WHEREAS, the Louisiana Fund (hereafter "Fund") is a dedicated fund established by LSA-R.S. 39:98.6(A) and is authorized to receive one hundred percent of the Tobacco Settlement Revenues in Fiscal Year 1999-2000;

WHEREAS, Act No. 10 and Act No. 20 of the 1999 Regular Session of the Legislature provided appropriations from the Fund;

WHEREAS, the governor has been notified by the commissioner of administration that the total appropriation from the Fund will exceed the official revenue forecast for the Fund by $14,150,691 and that a spending freeze is necessary to avoid a budget deficit;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Article IV, Section 5 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, as amended, Act No. 10 and Act No. 20 of the 1999 Regular Session of the Legislature, and other provisions of law, the governor may issue executive orders which limit the expenditure of funds by the various agencies in the executive branch of state government upon notification that a projected deficit exists for a dedicated fund; and

WHEREAS, the interests of the citizens of the state of Louisiana are best served by implementing prudent money management practices in the form of a spending freeze in the Fund to achieve a savings in the Fund of at least $14,151,000 for the remainder of the 1999-2000 fiscal year to ensure that the state of Louisiana will not suffer a budget deficit in the Fund due to fiscal year 1999-2000 appropriations exceeding actual revenues of the Fund;

NOW THEREFORE, I, M.J. "MIKE" FOSTER, JR., Governor of the state of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:

SECTION 1: The following departments, agencies and/or budget units of the executive branch of the state of Louisiana, as described in and/or funded by appropriations from the Fund through Act No. 10 and Act No. 20 of the 1999 Regular Session of the Legislature, shall reduce their expenditures from the Fund, in the amounts shown below:

A. Appropriations from Act No. 10 of the 1999 Regular Session of the Legislature

1) Executive Department Budget Unit 01-100 Executive Office

a) Off-system bridge repair program $2,500,000 2) Department of Health and Hospitals Budget Unit 09-326 Office of Public Health

a) Smoking cessation grants $2,500,000 3) Higher Education Budget Unit 19-671 Board of Regents

a) Louisiana Genetics Research Institute $191,000

b) Research grants in health care services $5,000,000

B. Appropriations from Act No. 20 of the 1999 Regular Session of the Legislature

1) Department of Natural Resources Budget Unit 11-431 Office of the Secretary

a) Capital Outlay for the Atchafalaya Basin Protection $170,000

2) Department of Economic Development Budget Unit 05-251 Office of the Secretary

a) Capital Outlay for the Louisiana Genetics Research Consortium $1,500,000

3) Miscellaneous Non-State Budget Unit 50-J37 Ouachita Parish

a) Capital Outlay for the Ouachita Parish Health Unit $1,800,000 Budget Unit 50-J34 Tensas Parish

b) Capital Outlay for the Tensas Parish Health Unit $490,000

SECTION 2: This Order is effective upon signature and shall continue in effect through June 30, 2000, unless amended, modified, terminated, or rescinded by the governor, or terminated by operation of law.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the city of Baton Rouge, on this 31st day of March, 2000.

M.J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
Governor

ATTEST BY
THE GOVERNOR
Fox McKeithen
Secretary of State