With a little over three weeks remaining in the ongoing session that kicked off on March 31, Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal has announced his support for a number of specific bills. According to a statement from Jindal’s press office, the legislation supported by the governor includes bills supporting the governor’s legislative agenda for this session. Among local lawmakers, here’s who made the cut:
REP. DON TRAHAN, R-LAFAYETTE, CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITEE
House Bill 672 — Reaffirms the authority of teachers to maintain a classroom environment “conducive to learning” by notifying both parents and students of the various rights teachers have by law.
House Bill 757 — Increases the penalties for assault and battery of a teacher.
House Concurrent Resolution 114 — Urges the Board of Regents to hold four-year colleges and universities more accountable for retaining and graduating students and leveraging state funding for external research grants.
House Bill 321 — Increases the number of charter school proposals that may be approved by BESE.
House Bill 349 — Provides BESE with greater flexibility in approving charter school renewals and the ability to grant renewals based on school performance.
House Bill 463 — Requires that BESE study and recommend whether schools should remain in New Orleans’ Recovery School District, be closed or return to the local school system from which it was transferred.
House Bill 1105 — Limits administrative fees that school boards can withhold from charter schools.
REP. FRED MILLS, D-PARKS
House Bill 930 — Requires new and existing human services districts to use effective planning, uniform accountability, and readiness standards.
House Concurrent Resolution 155 — Urges the Department of Health and Hospitals to study the development and implementation of special treatments for sexually-violent predators and child-sexual predators.
SEN. MIKE MICHOT, R-LAFAYETTE, CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 337 – Requires all state and non-state hospitals, as well as other health care facilities, report patient-specific data on the amount and type of free or uncompensated care they provide.
SEN. DONALD CRAVINS, JR., D-OPELOUSAS, CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE INSURANCE COMMITTEE Senate Bill 749 - Closes the Jetson Center for Youth in Baker by summer 2009.