By JIM BUTLER
Gov. Jeff Landry has signed more than 40 bills authored by Rapides legislators and passed in the session that ended earlier this month.
One vote remains in the aftermath of that session – Landry’s post- adjournment teacher pay proposal. Today is the final day for legislators to vote, though filing of a suit over the action could change that.
Bills that are now acts and new law cover a wide range of issues. They include:
Sen. Heather Cloud – Eight passed, including several in the child protection category, one requiring posting in student centers at schools, colleges, universities of information on available pregnancy resources; leftover, stipulations of criteria for additional per diem funding for housing state prisoners in parish jails.
Sen. Jay Luneau – Five passed, including restructuring of Renaissance Home governing board, measures relative to Office of State Public Defender, Office of Group Benefits; leftover, creating crime of failure to test for alcohol and controlled substances resulting in serious bodily injury or death, prohibiting attorney advertising through telephone communications.
Sen. Alan Seabaugh – Seven passed, including requiring law enforcement agencies to approve firearms and ammunition carried by its tactical medical professionals, mandatory sentencing for second-offense of purchasing commercial sexual activity; leftover, responsive verdicts for certain crimes.
Rep. Rhonda Butler – Six passed, including Capital Outlay allocation for Rural Infrastructure Revolving Loan Program, stipulations regarding district supervisors of Soil & Water Conservation Districts; leftover, relative to unfunded liability by employers in relation to Municipal Police Employees Retirement.
Rep. Jason DeWitt – Six passed, including administrative adjudication of certain Alexandria ordinance violations, jury duty mileage reimbursement for criminal trials equal to state rate, requiring ATV dealerships to have repair facilities; leftover, use of campaign finance funds for clothing worn during sessions, limit in frequency of reappraisal and valuation of property for tax purposes.
Rep. Mike Johnson – Nine passed, including penalties for unlawful disclosure of confidential information relative to victims of domestic violence, change in sentencing guidelines for posting or calling in threats to schools, restoring Biological Truth Act, relative to emergency operations plans at public schools; leftover, local option carbon capture mechanism, landowners protection-eminent domain, requiring broadcast of certain public meetings, broadcast and cable price notice requirements.
Rep. Ed Larvadain III – One passed, relative to initial eligibility requirements for M.J. Foster Promise Program; leftover, none.