BATON ROUGE – Governor Bobby Jindal announced on Monday that he has signed the following bills passed by the legislature into law: The legislation involves matters such as state bonds, teachers' retirement, jobs, public works, arts, education, contractors, pharmacy, education and more items.
HB 3 – Greene
This bill authorizes the selling of state bonds.
HB 89 – Doerge
This bill relates to the payment of interest on account balances for DROP participants in the Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System and the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana.
HB 258 – Little
This bill prohibits closure of certain railroad grade crossings.
HB 303 – Hazel
This bill allows full salary and full benefit payments for certain reemployed retirees of the District Attorneys' Retirement System.
HB 416 – Ellington
This bill improves the procedure for issuing rebates in the Enterprise Zone and Quality Jobs programs.
HB 445 – Greene
This bill allows larger parishes more time to transfer the tax sale of properties.
HB 526 – Arnold
This bill relates to a change in the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) formula for members of the Harbor Police Retirement System.
HB 550 – Henry
This bill authorizes the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to implement the Unified Carrier Registration program in Louisiana.
HB 556 – Arnold
This bill provides greater definition relating to electrical and mechanical contractors.
HB 558 – Downs
This bill requires public entities, which advertise bids for construction of public works projects, to include an estimate of budget in the advertisement.
HB 563 – Downs
This bill relates to the bid form for bidding on public works contracts.
HB 583 – Richardson
This bill authorizes the Central Community School Board to exchange certain unused school land.
HB 601 – Arnold
This bill relates to changes regarding the eligibility for supplemental pay for police officers and firefighters.
HB 766 – Richardson
This bill allows a taxing authority to recover tax payments from a tax collector in the event that payment was made to an erroneous taxing authority.
HB 888 – Henry
This bill provides for the development and determination of expenditure limits.
HB 899 – Peterson
This bill requires that the executive budget, the state budget, and the General Appropriation Bill include tax exemption information.
HB 909 – Morrell
This bill provides for the retention of schools transferred to the jurisdiction of the RecoverySchool District as a result of a school district designated to be in “academic crisis.”
HB 1054 – Peterson
This bill authorizes local school boards to create public benefit corporations.
HB 1068 – Kleckley
This bill relates to retirement eligibility for Alcohol and Tobacco Control officers.
HB 1069 – Williams
This bill authorizes the New OrleansCenter for Creative Arts to enter into cooperative agreements with certain local school systems for high school arts education.
HB 1091 - Peterson
This bill establishes a Dropout Prevention and Recovery Program for middle and high school students and requires early interventions, alternative academic programs, counseling, and exit interviews with parents upon withdrawal from school.
HB 1104 – Tucker
This bill creates the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
HB 1105 – Trahan
This bill relates to the funding of Type 2 charter schools, limits administrative fees withheld by chartering authorities, and provides for agreements between chartering authorities and charter schools for certain services.
HB 1133 – Downs
This bill provides for the circumstances under which a student is considered habitually absent or tardy and imposes penalties upon the parents or legal guardians of those students.
HB 1139 – Pope
This bill requires that operators of motor vehicles slow down to twenty-five miles per hour slower than the posted speed limit when an emergency vehicle is parked on the side of the road.
HB 1153 – Hazel
This bill prohibits wearing or possessing body armor on school property, at school-sponsored functions, or on firearm-free zones.
HB 1156 – Abramson
This bill establishes the Grants for Grads pilot program to retain college graduates by helping them to purchase their first home in Louisiana.
HB 1159 –St. Germain
This bill creates new standards for providing emergency access to elevators.
HB 1188 –Greene
This bill clarifies who is authorized to sign tax documents.
HB 1248 – Johnson
This bill authorizes the Public Service Commission to execute and implement the Federal Railroad Safety Program State Participation Agreement.
HB 1278 – Waddell
This bill authorizes the use of a TOPS Tech award to attend certain cosmetology and proprietary schools.
HB 1290 – LeBas
This bill relates to advice on pharmacy claims.
HB 1354 – Lopinto
This bill clarifies price-gouging laws relating to price changes attributable to ever-changing fluctuations in commodity markets.
HB 1367 – Hardy
This bill prohibits passing a vehicle in a school zone during posted hours.
SB 116 – Martiny
This bill renames a certain portion of the West Bank Expressway as the Harry Lee Expressway.
SB 180 – Michot
This bill transfers the Council for Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) to the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.
SB 312 - Mount
This bill provides for requirements for water fluoridation.
SB 329 – Adley
This bill relates to setting up procedures to promote uniformity in local sales and use tax determination.
SB 332 - Thompson
This bill creates the Health Care Information Technology and Infrastructure Advisory Committee.
SB 333 – Quinn
This bill relates to withdrawal notices being placed next to precinct registers.
SB 405 – Broome
This bill establishes the Louisiana Financial Literacy and Education Commission.
SB 447 – Cassidy
This bill permits local school systems and charter school authorizers to enter into cooperative agreements to allow students to enroll in any public school within the parish.
SB 465 – Walsworth
This bill requires that the driver education programs approved by BESE be developed in consultation with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
SB 499 – Crowe
This bill relates to the definition of a lobbyist.
SB 549 – Cassidy
This bill requires that students be afforded the opportunity to study certain critical languages as defined by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education.
SB 559 – Marionneaux
This bill requires compliance with audit requirements to receive appropriated funds.
SB 582 – Nevers
This bill requires the establishment and implementation of a program of early identification and intervention for schools that are at risk of failing.
SB 592 – Riser
This bill relates to private farm rail road crossings.
SB 701 – Mount
This bill provides for integrated case management through the use of the ‘No Wrong Door’ health care intiative.
SB 719 – Nevers
This bill provides for the implementation of a pilot program for early screening and intervention services for elementary school children with characteristics of dyslexia.
SB 722 – Smith
The bill sets timelines for municipal and parish zoning and advance notice of actions regarding military installations.
Nyscof, I completely agree with you……. and I understand the importance of what you are writing about….. Were I a wealthy man, I would start an internship program modeled somewhat around the U.S. Navy’s dental program currently in place for use around Louisiana…… But, I haven’t the means, and the politicians haven’t the wisdom… However, it would be so easy to implement, and such a sound approach..... So just chalk it up as another potential opportunity lost on the part of the citizenship of the State of Louisiana, whether they appreciate it or not….. That is the ultimate price we pay, as a collective whole for oppressive government policies, and poor implementation or direction of resources……………… I am not going to bother signing my name, it is equally unwanted as well as any other good that could be done…………………… Written by
on 7/10/2008
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To Mr or Ms What?
Apparently it's OK to mandate fluoride in the water which involves buying machinery, hiring more water engineers, another chemical to neutralize the acidity of the fluoride chemicals, repairs, paperwork, daily fluoride water testing. Also, it involves trucking chemicals (which usually requires gas) from supplier to each little water company in the state - increasing your dreaded carbon footprint.
And organized dentistry is behind every fluoridation mandate, so they really can't complain when they are mandated to treat more low-income people. The Wall Street Journal told me a couple of years ago that most dentists make three times more than many physicians while working fewer days and fewer hours doing less critical care. Now they are becoming dental spas for the wealthy. So, far from going out of business for instigating fluoridation, business is booming for dentists!!!
As far as I'm concerned the Louisiana legislature and Governor dictated fluoride into the drinking water because their constituents know nothing about it.
The ignorance about good dental health is caused by dentists who claim that brushing, flossing and seeing them regularly will eliminate tooth decay. That would imply, any kid can eat a sugar diet and not get cavities, if they just brush, floss and pay a dentist regularly.
Only diet can prevent tooth decay not fluoride. Yet, all we get is more fluoride and in more ways. How about feeding the poor with that fluoridation money instead. They would be healthier, have better teeth, be able to pay attention in school and be productive citizens.
The Centers for Disease Control tells us that American children are fluoride-overdosed and it's ruining their teeth with dental fluorosis - discolored teeth, creating a lucrative market for dentists to charge up to tens of thousands of dollars to cover, fix and make pretty.
As for money, we need to train Dental Therapists in this country. They already work in developed countries and would take Medicaid patients (80% of US dentists refuse Medicaid patients) and they would work in their own neighborhoods, and in the areas where rich dentists refuse to work or live. But organized dentistry lobbies against any group infringing on the lucrative monopoly.
So forgive me for being skeptical. Any group that lobbies against people getting their teeth fixed but for fluoridation doesn't have my best interests in mind in either case.
You obviously have no respect for people without money and apparently neither do dentists who would rather throw some toxic chemicals at them then actually seat them in their dental chairs.
However, you as a taxpayer will pay for expensive fluoridation schemes, where ever the money originates from and you will pay for the emergency room treatment low-income people invariably incur at ten times the cost of a simple filling because you feel sorry for the poor dentist that shouldn't be forced to do anything he doesn't want to do.
Boo Hoo
Written by nyscof
on 7/9/2008
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Jindal has LIED, and that is That!!! No one can ever resurrect themselves from the flames of having lied and everyone knew and knows it!!! The people of this state must REMEMBER these lies about first of all, the Legislators' Raises, which he finally vetoed, and secondly, he was definitely against doing away with the Stelly Tax Plan, then he "turned around" and favored it, and even claimed it as one of his accomplishments, but, OH, too Late, Jindal, you are on your way for the third and last strike---just one more LIE, which I'm sure you've already done, but it is just that I have no immediated knowledge of it, but there will be more LIES, citizens and voters of this state---JUST YOU WATCH WHAT I SAY!!! Sidney Touchet... Written by Sidney Touchet
on 7/8/2008
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“Mandate that dentists treat more low-income individuals?” Yes, a dictator can mandate that…. But nyscof, where is the money in that????? And isn’t the issue of ignorance of the effects from not brushing your teeth supposed to be something that is taught in Health studies during a child’s elementary schooling??? And isn't that another one of Bobby’s priorities, schooling everyone so that they ‘become really smart in state sponsored schools’ so they won’t leave Louisiana in pursuit of a career somewhere else???? Ahhh,,, maybe Pi-Boy can start a grupendentist program….. One of the rewards of volunteering for that could be a ‘get out of jail free’ card……………… Printed by ‘Angola’ prisoners ‘employed’ at the government print shop of course…. With federal assistance dollars for the implementation of this program……………………………. Or it could be a theraputic program for mentally challenged victims in Louisiana....... Written by ...A stitch in time saves what?...................
on 7/8/2008
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Governor Jindal's vote for fluoridation places him squarely in the pocket of special interests. It seems the Louisiana Dental Association had their way with him. Former administrations wouldn't allow such a mandate and only encouraged fluoridation.
Now Governor Jindal, if you really want to tackle the dental health crisis in Louisiana, you must mandate that dentists treat more low-income individuals. Oh yeah, the dentists lobby against that.
Organized dentistry lobbies for fluoridation and against any group that is willing and able to fill the teeth of the dentist-deficient.
It's clear that it's only organized dentistry and the legislators they support, who benefit from fluoridation. Written by nyscof
on 7/8/2008
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If you can believe it: Ohio is listed as the 17th state in the U.S. but technically its number 47. Until August 7, 1953, Congress forgot to vote on a resolution to admit Ohio to the union……. So conversely, it could be reasonably construed that any reforms or laws either advocated or adhered to by the ‘leading status quo’ not only be Congress, but the States which installed those stewards of the common interest are really only applied or practiced out of convenience for the party in power……… and any resolutions to cover up that fact after a case is made or presented are merely applied or practiced out of convenience as well…….. So it would be logical to pose the question: Who is it that is really making the decisions that are supposed to be the governing factors of what could be construed as being either bad, or for the good of the whole, and by what absolute act of law gives them the power to do so???? It is probable that it is quite the schizophrenic environment that we appear to adhere to…… manifested by schizophrenic doctrines presented for us to labor under…… Adversely it would also seem to suggest that although we may not all be entirely crazy, we surely do labor under a common neurosis…… Unfortunately it appears that for the most part we are commonly too timid to identify and address their presentations…… Written by .....................M - M & I..................
on 7/8/2008
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