NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 24, 2009) - In preparation for the 2009 Louisiana Legislative Session, the City of New Orleans today outlined its legislative and fiscal priorities. The City's priorities seek to promote the continued recovery and revitalization of New Orleans, the region and Louisiana.
"Our legislative delegation has been a true partner in our rebuilding efforts," said Mayor C. Ray Nagin. "We look forward to continuing our work with them during this session to maintain the momentum of our recovery. Although this is a fiscal session, we appreciate the ongoing interactions our delegation has had with us to identify and propose action on other key issues that need immediate attention as well."
The priorities cover four broad areas: Protect and Enhance our Recovery; Ensure Access to Physical and Mental Health Services; Expand Economic Development Opportunities; and Prioritize Public Safety. The following are among the City's priorities for this Legislative Session:
PROTECT AND ENHANCE OUR RECOVERY
New Orleans is progressing toward a full recovery, but continues to need support from state partners to ensure continued forward movement. The City supports legislation and initiatives that will facilitate the rebuilding of public infrastructure. The City also supports efforts that protect the needs, rights and opportunities of citizens working to rebuild their homes and lives and help New Orleans as a community to build smarter and stronger.
Design-Build Contract Option for All Rebuilding; Rep. G. Jackson
· HB 354- Extends the length of time relative to the utilization of design-build contracts.
Hurricane Evacuation Support; Sen. Morrell and Rep. Arnold
· SB 81 (Sen. Morrell) - Grants a refundable credit for 50 % of contributions made to an Emergency Evacuation Expense Savings Accounts for the benefit of certain individuals having a primary residence within a parish with a history of emergency evacuations, limited to $250 per family member and $5,000 per account.
· HB 200 (Rep. Arnold) - Encourages and supports evacuation by authorizing individual tax credit for certain expenses incurred during a mandatory hurricane evacuation.
ENSURE ACCESS TO PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
The continued growth and development of the City's biomedical district is a key economic development initiative that will contribute significantly to the future of New Orleans, Louisiana, and the entire region. The implementation of planned projects in this district will transform employment and the economics of New Orleans for generations and make the city and Louisiana competitive with other leaders in medical treatment and research.
New Orleans faces significant healthcare needs that must be addressed simultaneous to the development of the new biomedical district.. Since Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has lacked adequate medical and mental health infrastructure as well as a sufficient supply of medical professionals. This has led to an increased dependence on emergency room services for conditions that could normally be addressed more easily and with less expense by primary care physicians. It also has led to an overall decrease the access to services for our poorest citizens and residents without health insurance. Mental health services also are in critical need, since inadequate inpatient beds and supportive services are available for poor citizens
The City of New Orleans opposes both the closure of the New OrleansAdolescentHospital and the proposed reductions in staffing and services at the LSUInterimHospital. These cuts would be a devastating blow to a system that is already under tremendous stress and struggling to recover. The City supports the constitutional and statutory changes that would give the Governor flexibility in cutting protected programs so that critical needs for healthcare and education are not sacrificed.
Enhancing Healthcare Services for Uninsured and Medicaid Patients; Sen. Heitmeier
· SB 51-Authorizes the Department of Health and Hospitals to accept intergovernmental transfers from local governing bodies for the purpose of enhancing the provision of health care services for uninsured and Medicaid patients.
EXPAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
New Orleans must continue to advance strategies for economic development in order to be competitive today and in the future. The City must take advantage of current assets and must develop new opportunities. The City supports legislation designed to foster a more robust business environment and to enhance Louisiana's image, reputation and standing both nationally and internationally as a good place to do business. To that end, the City of New Orleans supports legislation that positions critical assets including port and the tourism sector to capitalize on the opportunities that exist now and those that will be presented during the next phase of the City's recovery.
Port Consolidation; Speaker Tucker
· HB 779 - Consolidates the ports in the parishes of Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines.
Tax incentives for shipping via New OrleansPort and others; Rep. Richmond and Rep. Hutter
· HB 744 (Richmond) - Louisiana International Business Incentive and Retention Tax Credit.
· HB 215 (Hutter) - Creates the Ports of Louisiana Investor Tax Credit. Rep. Hutter.
Extend Film Tax Incentives; Rep. Henry and Rep. Richmond
· HB 142 (Henry) - Provides relative to the maximum amount of the tax credit for state-certified productions and repeals the phase-down of such tax credits.
· HB 272 (Richmond) - Extends the deadline for issuance of motion picture investor tax credits for state-certified infrastructure projects.
Extend Sound Recording Tax Incentives; Rep. Richmond
· HB 271- Extends the date for issuance of the sound recording investor tax credit to January 1, 2011.
PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY
The future of New Orleans depends on the recovery of the entire public safety system and investment in our children. Even as City of New Orleans experiences a declining crime rate, new legislation is essential to address critical concerns, such as access to assault weapons, workforce preparation for former offenders, and special programs for at risk youth. In addition, the system will operate most efficiently when all sectors of it are financed at an adequate level.
Assault Weapons Ban; Rep. Richmond
· HB 387- Bans possession of certain assault weapons.
Weapons and Firearms Control; Sen. Morrell, Rep. Ernst, Rep. LaFonta
· SB 219, HB 523, & HB 44 criminalize the carrying and/or discharging of weapons at parades or public events.
Promote Witness Protection; Rep. Leger
· HB 33 - Enacts the Witness Protection Act.
