Requires each parish voluntary council on aging to submit certain financial information monthly to the legislative auditor. (8/1/26)

Senate Bill 247 amends Louisiana Revised Statutes 46:1602(A)(3) to impose a new monthly financial reporting requirement on parish voluntary councils on aging. The bill adds language requiring each parish voluntary council on aging to submit bank statements to the legislative auditor on a monthly basis, with a submission deadline of the last day of each month. The amendment retains existing law that authorizes these councils to receive public funds from governmental or political subdivisions upon issuance of a charter by the secretary of state and subjects those funds to audit by the legislative auditor. The bill becomes effective August 1, 2026.

Parish voluntary councils on aging throughout Louisiana will be directly affected by this legislation, as each such council must now establish a process to compile and transmit bank statements to the legislative auditor every month. These organizations, which receive public funds from various governmental sources to serve aging populations in their respective parishes, will incur administrative costs associated with gathering financial documentation and meeting the monthly deadline. The legislative auditor's office will also be affected by an increase in the volume of financial records it must receive and maintain, requiring potential staffing adjustments to handle the additional monthly submissions from all parish councils on aging statewide.

The bill operates within the existing statutory framework governing parish voluntary councils on aging established in R.S. 46:1602. Present law already authorized the legislative auditor to audit funds received by these councils, establishing the auditor's existing authority over these entities' finances. Senate Bill 247 enhances the auditor's oversight capability by requiring more frequent and regular submission of financial information rather than relying solely on periodic audits. This monthly reporting requirement creates a new transparency mechanism that complements and strengthens the auditor's existing audit authority under state law.