Article archive / March 1, 2014
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 7. Source pages: 1, 3.
Bills Prefiled Last Friday Legislative Session To Convene March 10
The legislature will convene next Monday, March 10, and plod through its growing set of proposals until Monday June 2 when it is set to adjourn. This session sees prefiled bills for a number of issues in the psychology and behavioral health community. Bills are offered for a new designation for licensed specialist in school psychology, a new license for post-doctoral level individuals in psychology called a provisional license, and new provisional designations for interns in counseling and marriage and family therapists. A measure to clarify definitions is also proposed. There is a bill to create a license for art therapists and one to make changes in the behavior analyst law to clarify issues for line technicians.
A measure to combine the Department of Health and Hospitals with the Department of Child and Family Services has been prefiled and if approved takes effect this November, as part of the Executive Reorganization Act to promote efficiency in state functions.
One topic likely to characterize this year’s debate is Medicaid and issues surrounding the Affordable Care Act. A variety of bills have been prefiled on the topic, including proposed constitutional amendments to expand Medicaid eligibility to conform with federal law. There are also alternative proposals. Among these, one prohibits enforcement of the Affordable Care Act and there is another one aimed to establish an alternative program, the “Louisiana Health Care Independence Program.”
Prefiled bills were due Friday, but legislative members can introduce up to five more each after the session begins. These bills must be “requested” by March 31 and introduced by April 1.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.