INDReporter

Bill Count: 166 bills filed by Lafayette Parish state lawmakers

by Heather Miller

At last count, the total number of bills Lafayette Parish state lawmakers have filed for the current legislative session is 166. From congratulating the Ragin' Cajuns for a bowl win to merging Lafayette's community and technical colleges to "providing for the powers of the police chief of Youngsville," Lafayette Parish state lawmakers have a slew of bills pending in the Legislature.

State Sen. Elbert Guillory, D-Opelousas, leads the pack with a whopping 42 pieces of legislation filed this session, nearly doubling the amount of bills authored by state Sen. Jonathan Perry, who ranks second for the most bills filed (23).

Freshman State Rep. Vincent Pierre, the Lafayette Democrat who unseated state Rep. Rickey Hardy last year, has filed only one bill for this session: A clarification in the technical language of an insurance law.

The following is a list of bills (courtesy of the Louisiana Legislature's website) filed by lawmakers who represent at least a small portion of Lafayette Parish. Full details of the bills can be found online at the Legislature's website:

State Rep. Stuart Bishop, Republican, District 43 - 12 Bills
HB 200, APPROPRIATIONS/JUDGMENT - Appropriates funds for payment of judgment against DOTD in the matter of "Sheryl A. Broussard and Ronald P. Broussard v. Chatra Carter, Allstate Insurance Company and Lafayette Consolidated Government
HB 365, ELECTIONS/CANDIDATES - Requires candidates for certain offices to receive ethics education prior to qualifying
HB 366, VOTERS/VOTING - Provides relative to the counting of votes cast by persons who die prior to the opening of the polls on election day
HB 660, COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS - Provides relative to certain misleading solicitations by nongovermental entities which imply certain state governmental connections
HB 699, PUBLIC RECORDS - Provides that certain electronic mail addresses obtained through certain corporate and association filings are confidential
HB 878, ELECTIONS/ABSENTEE VOTE - Repeals a requirement that the registrar of voters compile and post a list of certain information concerning persons who have applied to vote prior to election day
HB 931, WORKERS COMPENSATION - Provides for employer reporting of injury data
HB 1049, JUDGES - Provides authority for federal judges to perform marriage ceremonies
HB 1075, ENERGY/DRILLING - Prohibits the construction of residences or businesses within five hundred feet of an existing oil or gas well
HCR 6, WILDLIFE & FISHERIES - Specifies accreditation requirements for exemption from Wildlife and Fisheries Commission rules governing possession of exotic cats
HCR 28, COMMENDATIONS - Commends the Ragin' Cajuns of ULL upon winning the 2011 New Orleans Bowl
HR 13, COMMENDATIONS - Commends the St. Thomas More High School girls basketball team of Lafayette upon winning the state championship

State Sen. Patrick Cortez, Republican, District 23 - 19 Bills
SB 16 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS - Provides for education for trustees of certain public retirement system boards
SB 19 TEACHERS RETIREMENT - Allows retired adjunct professors to avoid benefit suspension during reemployment, subject to an earnings limitation.
SB 20 TEACHERS RETIREMENT - Allows retired adjunct professors to avoid benefit suspension during reemployment, subject to an earnings limitation.
SB 27 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS - Relative to benefits in Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System.
SB 28 STATE POLICE RET FUND - Relative to benefits for members of the State Police Retirement System.
SB 29 SCHOOL EMPLOYEES RET - Provides relative to benefits for members of the Louisiana School Employees' Retirement System.
SB 30 TEACHERS RETIREMENT - Relative to benefits for members of the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana.
SB 34 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE RET - Provides relative to membership, contributions, eligibility for and calculation of benefits for employees of certain municipalities.
SB 42 RETIREMENT BENEFITS - Provides for a sixty-month average compensation period for members of state retirement systems.
SB 46 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS - Provides relative to merger of the La. School Employees' Retirement System into the Teachers' Retirement System of La.
SB 80 LOCAL OFFICIALS - Provides for the powers of the chief of police of Youngsville.
SB 284 COMMUNITY TECH SYSTEM - Merges certain La.Technical College campuses with South Louisiana Community College.
SB 312 LOCAL OFFICIALS - Provides that the position of assistant police chief, relative to the towns of Broussard, Carencro, Scott and Youngsville, shall be in the unclassified service.
SB 342 TAX/SALES - Re-creates the Louisiana Tax Free Shopping (Refund) Program set to terminate on 7/1/13.
SB 464 PUBLIC CONTRACTS - Prohibits awards or procurements with individuals convicted of certain felony crimes.
SB 480 MINERALS - Provides relative to the mineral lease and notice of breach.
SB 613 WORKERS' COMPENSATION - Provides for workers' compensation benefits, medical treatment and rehabilitation, and fraudulent conduct
SB 643 GROUP INSURANCE - Changes definitions relating to portability, availability, and renewability of health insurance.
SCR 16 WILDLIFE/FISHERIES DEPT - Specifies accreditation requirements for exemptions from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission rules governing possession of exotic cats.

State Sen. Elbert Guillory, Democrat, District 24 - 42 bills
SB2 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS - Provides for attendance of legislative staff at certain executive sessions of public retirement boards. (gov sig)
SB6 SCHOOL EMPLOYEES RET - Provides for annual reporting to the La. School Employees' Retirement System on privatized jobs.
SB7 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE RET - Provides for a 60 month final compensation for all active employees.
SB8 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE RET - Provides for board membership and elections.
SB9 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE RET - Provides relative to employee contributions.  
SB10 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS - Provides for clarification of valuation method application.
SB11 PAROCHIAL EMPLOYEES RET - Provides for definition of terms.
SB12 REGISTRAR OF VOTERS RET - Provides for a 60-month average compensation for active employees.
SB13 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS - Provides for use of entry age normal valuation method by Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System and Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana.
SB14 REGISTRAR OF VOTERS RET - Provides relative to the calculation of benefits.
SB15 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE RET - Provides for benefit accruals for elected officials.
SB18 STATE POLICE RET FUND - Provides for technical corrections.  
SB21 LEGIS POWERS/FUNCTIONS - Constitutional amendment to provide for prefiling and notice deadlines for bills affecting public retirement systems.
SB22 SHERIFFS - Provides for membership of part-time employees.  
SB23 RETIREMENT BENEFITS - Provides for a permanent benefit increase for certain retired state employees.
SB24 REGISTRAR OF VOTERS RET - Provides for compliance with federal tax qualification requirements.  
SB25 RETIREMENT BENEFITS - Provides a regular schedule for permanent benefit increases for retirees of the state retirement systems.  
SB32 TEACHERS RETIREMENT - Changes the actuarial valuation method to entry age normal.  
SB33 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS - Requires employers to continue contributing to state and statewide public retirement systems for the duration of DROP participation.
SB35 SHERIFFS - Provides relative to benefits.
SB36 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE RET - Provides for compliance with federal tax qualification requirements.
SB37 SHERIFFS - Provides for surviving spouse annuities.  
SB38 REGISTRAR OF VOTERS RET - Provides for Tier 2 of benefits for persons employed on or after January 1, 2013.
SB41 STATE EMPLOYEES - Provides for a minimum benefit.  
SB43 ASSESSORS RETIREMENT - Provides for tax qualification.  
SB44 RETIREMENT BENEFITS - Provides relative to authority to grant cost-of-living adjustments.  
SB45 SCHOOL EMPLOYEES RET - Transfers certain support personnel to the system.  
SB47 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS - Provides relative to final average compensation.  
SB48 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS - Provides relative to membership on the boards of state retirement systems.  
SB49 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE RET - Provides for a second tier of benefits for persons employed on or after 1/1/13.  
SB50 SHERIFFS PEN/RELIEF FUND - Provides for permanent benefit increases for retirees of the system.  
SB51 RETIREMENT BENEFITS - Provides relative to retirement eligibility for certain members of the La. State Employees' Retirement System and the Teachers' Retirement System of La.  
SB52 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS - Increases the employee contribution rate for certain members of state retirement systems.  
SB53 RETIREMENT BENEFITS - Provides for a cash balance plan for certain state employees.  
SB54 STATE EMPLOYEE RET - Provides for the system valuation method.
SB55 STATE EMPLOYEE RET - Changes the system's actuarial valuation method to entry age normal.
SB56 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS - Provides relative to merger of the La. School Employees' Retirement System into the Teachers' Retirement System of La.  
SB57 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS - Provides relative to the experience account.
SB101 CHARITABLE GAMING - Increases the number of days that games of chance may be conducted.  
SB193 MOTOR VEHICLES - Provides for prestige license plates for the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.  
SB739 TEACHERS RETIREMENT - Provides for employer contributions. (gov sig)
SB740 RETIREMENT BENEFITS - Provides relative to certain experience accounts.

State Rep. Nancy Landry, Republican, District 31 - 15 Bills
HB515 HEALTH CARE/FACILITIES - Revises the La. Clinical Laboratory Personnel Law
HB562 HUMAN REMAINS - Prohibits a person alleged to have intentionally caused the death of a person to control of interment or cremation of the decedent
HB563 CONTRACTS - Allows for cancellation of contracts with automatic renewal clauses
HB759 CRIME - Creates the crime of female genital mutilation
HB760 BONDS/BAIL - Provides that bail for a crime of violence shall be revoked upon subsequent arrest  
HB778 PUBLIC RECORDS - Provides relative to records of the office of the governor by providing that certain travel log records include travel in all state police aircraft
HB789 HEALTH/MIDWIVES - Provides for the licensure of birth centers
HB895 SCHOOLS/CHOICE - Provides for the School Choice Scholarship Program
HB912 ADOPTION - Provides procedures for intrafamily adoptions
HB913 SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS - Requires local school boards to notify parents of school bus drivers' criminal convictions
HB947 HEALTH/MIDWIVES - Amends provisions relative midwifery licensing
HB949 PUBLIC MEETINGS - Provides relative to meetings of public bodies
HB1142 PUBLIC MEETINGS - Provides relative to committees of public bodies
HB1143 PUBLIC MEETINGS - Provides relative to meeting agendas
HR15 SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH - Recognizes Tuesday, March 27, 2012, as Girl Scouts of the USA Day at the La. State Capitol and commemorates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Girl Scouts

State Rep. Jack Montoucet, Democrat, District 42 - 18 Bills
HB22 RETIREMENT BENEFITS - Relative to retirement benefits of adult probation and parole officers in LASERS
HB39 RETIREMENT/FIREFIGHTERS - Provides relative to federal tax qualification requirements for the Firefighters' Retirement System  
HB238 PURCHASING/PROCUREMT CD - Makes preference for goods produced, manufactured, or assembled in La. mandatory  
HB319 ASSESSORS - Provides relative to the salary of the assessor in Lafayette Parish (OR +$11,770)
HB482 CIVIL/DISCOVERY - Provides for discovery in cases involving certain environmental damage from oilfield operations
HB526 SUPPLEMENTAL PAY - Waives the one year service requirement for eligibility for state supplemental pay for firefighters ordered to active military duty prior to completion of one year of service
HB544 MTR VEHICLE/DRIVER LIC - Requires a licensed driver who OMV has reason to believe to be unqualified to drive to submit to the written and skills test
HB570 HUNTING/ALLIGATORS - Requires certain information relative to shipments of alligator parts or skins and exempts from the Public Records Act certain records held by the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries relative to specific shipments of alligator parts or skins
HB642 MINERALS - Provides for the remediation of certain oil field sites
HB643 FUNDS/FUNDING - Provides relative to the Alligator Resource Fund
HB801 CIVIL SERVICE/FIRE & POL - Provides relative to the reemployment of employees who have resigned or retired from the classified service due to injury
HB853 MINERALS/MINING - Provides for the Louisiana Land Owners Protection Act
HB863 MINERALS - Provides for the lessee's obligation to restore the leased premises
HB939 CIVIL SERVICE/FIRE & POL - Provides that the classified fire and police service shall be applicable to private entities that enter into contracts or agreements with certain municipalities, parishes, and fire protection districts
HB995 TRANSPORTATION - Requires DOTD to present highway priority program information in a certain format
HB1037 MINERALS/MINING - Provides for the Louisiana Land Owners Protection Act
HB1038 SHERIFFS - Provides relative to the payment of insurance premiums for retirees of the Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office
HR17 SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH - Commends the La. Physical Therapy Association and recognizes March 26-30, 2012, as La. Physical Therapy Association Week

State Rep. Stephen Ortego, Democrat, District 39 - 15 Bills
HB530 TRANSPORTATION - Requires the implementation of a Complete Streets plan HB579 CULTURE/FRENCH - Provides relative to the official working language and certain designations of the Council for the Development of French in La. (CODOFIL)
HB664 PROCUREMENT - Provides with respect to the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles for the state fleet  
HB708 MOTOR VEHICLES - Provides for state vehicle conversions to compressed natural gas  
HB770 MEDICAID - Requires the Dept. of Health and Hospitals to implement an equitable system of Medicaid reimbursement to private hospitals and to state hospitals respectively
HB803 PUBLIC BLDGS/GROUNDS-ST - Requires the use of certain materials with low volatile organic compound content in public buildings
HB867 HEALTH - Authorizes a cooperative endeavor between University Medical Center in Lafayette and the Lafayette Parish School System to develop a pilot program for school-based health and wellness centers
HB1009 TRAFFIC - Provides relative to bicycles
HB1061 FUELS - Authorizes the use of automatic liquefied petroleum gas dispensing devices
HB1179 TAX/TAX REBATES - Increases the per hour pay of new direct jobs created in determination of the benefit rate under the La. Quality Jobs Program
HB1193 TRAFFIC - Provides relative to bicycles
HCR23 TRANSPORTATION - Creates the Uniform Bilingual Signage and Map Task Force
HCR41 HONORARY DESIGNATIONS - Designates the city of Scott as the Boudin Capital of the World
HCR46 CULTURE/FRENCH - Requests that state agencies, when translating information from English to French, make every effort to make such translations using La. French
HCR49 WATERWAYS/SCENIC RIVERS - Requests the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries to study Bayou Teche for possible inclusion into the Historic and Scenic Rivers program

State Sen. Jonathan Perry, Republican, District 26 - 23 Bills
SB270 TAX/INCOME/PERSONAL - Provides for donations of tax refunds to the Friends of Palmetto Island State Park, Inc. through a check-off box on state income tax returns.
SB271 TAX/INCOME/PERSONAL - Provides for donations of tax refunds to the Dreams Come True, Inc., through a check-off box on state income tax returns.
SB324 COURTS - Provides an automobile expense allowance for the Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court.
SB325 SECONDHAND DEALERS - Exempts from definition of "secondhand dealer" any person or entity holding a federal firearm license.  
SB457 COURTS - Provides relative to the jurisdiction of certain city courts.
SB474 MOTOR CARRIERS - Exempts motor carriers of non-hazardous oilfield waste from proving public convenience and necessity.
SB481 CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - Provides relative to discovery procedures for certain evidence in certain criminal proceedings.
SB482 CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - Provides relative to the taking of depositions of a child victim of sexual abuse.
SB483 MOTOR VEHICLES - Allows golf carts to be driven by licensed and insured drivers on the roadways of Palmetto Island State Park.
SB484 CHILDREN - Provides relative to human trafficking, trafficking of children for sexual purposes, and the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
SB485 CRIME/PUNISHMENT - Provides relative to certain offenses committed while intoxicated.
SB486 MOTOR VEHICLES - Provides relative to reinstatement of driving privileges under certain circumstances for persons convicted of certain offenses involving operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
SB487 MOTOR VEHICLES - Provides relative to reinstatement of a driver's license that has been revoked under certain circumstances.
SB488 MOTOR VEHICLES - Provides relative to eligibility for a restricted license by persons convicted of certain crimes involving operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
SB489 MOTOR VEHICLES - Provides relative to hearing procedures following revocation or denial of driver's license.
SB496 MUNICIPALITIES - Provides relative to the authority of the chief of police for the city of Kaplan and the position of assistant to the chief of police.
SB498 AGRICULTURE/FOREST DEPT - Authorizes the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry to administer the surface water management plan.
SB562 SPECIAL DISTRICTS - Provides relative to the tax upon the occupancy of hotel rooms, motel rooms, and overnight camping facilities levied and collected by the Abbeville Film and Visitors Commission District.
SB600 TOURISM - Provides for the levy, collection, allocation, and use of certain taxes collected by the Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission.
SB687 DWI - Provides relative to the sentencing guidelines for first and subsequent offense DWI.
SB710 LAW ENFORCEMENT - Provides relative to the interception of communications.
SCR40 WATER/WATERWAYS - Requests the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, in conjunction with appropriate member agencies, to jointly study the freshwater needs of the Mermentau Basin and the feasibility of diverting Atchafalaya River water into the Mermentau Basin.
SCR42 LEGIS POWERS/FUNCTIONS - Designates the city of Scott as the Boudin Capital of the World.

State Rep. Vincent Pierre, Democrat, District 44 - 1 Bill
HB359 INSURANCE DEPARTMENT - Provides relative to the section of insurance fraud within the Dept. of Insurance

State Rep. Joel Robideaux, Republican, District 45 - 21 Bills
HB2 CAPITAL OUTLAY - Provides for the comprehensive Capital Outlay budget
HB3 CAPITAL OUTLAY - Provides for the Omnibus Bond Act
HB185 APPROPRIATIONS/JUDGMENT - Appropriates funds for payment of judgment against the state in the matter of "Mardel Von Solow, et al, and Paul Williams Marks and Belinda Boutte Migues, et al v. DOTD"
HB377 TAX RETURN - Provides relative to credits and overpayments for partnerships filing composite returns  
HB419 TAX RETURN - Prohibits the suspension or interruption of prescription for certain taxes, licenses, interest, and penalties under certain circumstances
HB490 REVENUE DEPARTMENT - Provides for the uniform administration of donations designated on income tax returns
HB537 PROPERTY/UNCLAIMED - Provides with respect to the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act
HB626 SUNSET LAW - Re-creates the Dept. of Revenue
HB674 TAX/AD VALOREM-EXEMPTION - (Constitutional Amendment) Authorizes the granting of ad varlorem tax exemption contracts by the Board of Commerce and Industry for certain businesses
HB694 TAX/AD VALOREM-EXEMPTION - Establishes a program to authorize the granting of ad valorem tax exemption contracts by the Board of Commerce and Industry for certain businesses
HB729 TAX/CORP INCOME - Extends the single sales factor for computation of corporate income and franchise taxes for manufacturing or merchandising to other qualified businesses through establishment of the Corporate Tax Apportionment Program
HB754 TAX/TAX REBATES - Authorizes the secretary of DED to enter into state sales and use tax rebate contracts with procurement processing companies which recruit purchasing companies to La.
HB898 TAX RETURN - Requires all withholding tax returns to be filed quarterly
HB937 TAX/TAX REBATES - Creates the Corporate Headquarters Relocation Program which authorizes a rebate for certain costs related to the relocation of certain corporate headquarter projects
HB958 TAX/TAX REBATES - Creates the Competitive Projects Payroll Incentive Program which grants rebates to certain qualifying businesses
HB1001 BONDS - Prohibits the State Bond Commission from approving bonds, notes, or other indebtedness of political subdivisions against whom there is an unpaid judgment issued by a court of competent jurisdiction for amounts owed for services performed under contract
HB1021 APPROPRIATIONS/JUDGMENT - Appropriates funds for payment of judgment against DOTD in the matter of "Allstate Insurance Company and Ronald P. Broussard v. Chatra Carter, Allstate Insurance Company and Lafayette Consolidated Government"
HB1042 TAX/INCOME TAX - Provides relative to the definition of "tax table income" for resident individuals for purposes of calculating income tax
HB1080 INSURERS/TAXES - Beginning Jan. 1, 2013, reduces the annual insurance premium tax on certain insurance policies, contracts, and obligations over a five-year period
HCR45 COMMENDATIONS - Commends Lafayette upon being named the Tastiest Town in the South by Southern Living magazine
HR16 COMMENDATIONS - Commends the Lafayette High School girls basketball team upon winning the Class 5A state championship