Proposed Preview
Lawmakers push for law to ‘improve’ state
Perusing state lawmakers’ prefiled bills leading up to the annual legislative session has been generally informative and often entertaining. It’s been an annual ritual for over a decade to scan the entire list of House and Senate bills and reading more thoroughly those whose descriptions suggest some merit in the proposed legislation.
A look at this year’s list includes 1,029 House and 559 Senate proposals to amend state laws, and with the exception of Rep. Thomas Carmody, several of our local lawmakers are advancing numerous considerations to “improve” Louisiana laws.
Now that this year’s session is underway, we should all be watching the progress of our representatives’ efforts including some of the following.
Rep. Jeff Thompson’s list numbers about a dozen proposals – some fairly technical, such as amending the Louisiana Civil Code with respect to forced heirs, and another body of law concerning regulation of explosives.
Not at all surprising, Thompson has a gun related issue on his agenda with House bill 20. Thompson seeks to amend the state statute that generally prohibits firearms in an alcoholic beverage establishment; bill 20 would make an exception for concealed carry permit holders in restaurants with a class permit.
And he’s also sponsoring a bill that would prohibit drivers from using cell phones or similar devices while traveling through school zones. Evidently we’re so addicted to our electronic connection that we now require a law to tell us what we should already know about the safety of our children.
Like Thompson, Rep. Henry Burns is also a strong advocate of gun rights. Burns is sponsoring bill 10 which would allow law enforcement officers to carry their weapons into alcoholic beverage establishments while they are not working in their law enforcement capacities. Burns’ bill 163 is an education-centered effort to limit the effect of the Common Core State Standards testing in Louisiana by prohibiting the administration of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career assessments for our public education students. Instead, Burns favors maintaining use of the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program evaluation. Hopefully committee hearings on this one will review Louisiana’s dismal national education standings and encourage moving up the scale with a few new tools like PARCC.
On the other hand Burns’ bill 46, which would require every final court judgment contain the type-written or printed name of the judge signing the document, is an idea whose time actually came years ago. All it takes is a little name stamp below that signature line to know just whose name is scrawled across it.
Sen. Barrow Peacock’s Senate bill 151 probably isn’t the only one on the Senate bill roster to propose prohibiting the sale of electronic cigarettes and vapor pens to the younger than 18 crowd; this one should be an easy pass. Peacock’s prestige license plate for Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center is a good idea, but one wonders if we really need to clutter up state law with yet another special license plate.
As always, Sen. Sherry Buffington’s pre-filed bills single her out as a champion of proposed health-care legislation. Buffington is term-limited and approaching the end of her service – her diligence on behalf of her local constituents and those across the state will be missed.
Finally, while Rep. Thomas Carmody’s list of pre-filed bills totals only three, his bill 587 is sure to generate some interest. This proposed Constitutional Amendment would eliminate certain constitutional dedications and funding mandates, and specifically speaks to state supplemental pay for law enforcement and fire protection personnel, free school books, the Minimum Foundation Program, Costal Protection and Restoration Fund and Transportation Trust Fund.
That bill ought to generate a conversation or two.
Then, there’s the series of proposed legislative changes filed by Sen. Robert Adley, but that calls for a longer discussion than space allows for in this issue.
As always, it looks to be a lively legislative session. But as interesting as the annual preview of proposed legislation can be, it’s important for all of us to keep up with the progress of proposals that often impact us.
Let lawmakers know what you support and what you don’t.
Marty Carlson, a freelance writer, has been covering local news for the past 13 years. She can be reached via email at [email protected].
