Opinion ID: 1737143
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Local or Special Law

Text: We have little difficulty in finding Act 454 of 1987 does not violate the prohibition of Article III, § 12 of the Louisiana Constitution against local or special laws. It is true that Act 454 clearly meets the initial test for a local law set out in State v. LaBauve since its operation is limited solely by its designation of certain parishes. 359 So.2d 181, 183 (La.1978). Article III, § 12, however, does not prohibit the legislature from passing any kind of local or special law. Rather, the legislature is forbidden to pass local or special laws concerning clearly specified subjects. [2] In LaBauve, for example, the local law found unconstitutional was a criminal statute and thus specifically prohibited by Article III, § 12(A)(10). In this case, Act 454 deals with the apportionment of tax revenues among the zones of a state fire protection district; it falls into none of the categories of proscribed local laws. Moreover, as discussed below, Act 454 is a local law of the kind specifically authorized by La. Const. Art. VI, § 19. Therefore, we conclude Act 454 is not unconstitutional as violative of Article III, § 12.