Article archive / June 1, 2016
Originally published: . Volume 7, No. 6. Source pages: 1, 3.
Last week Governor Edwards issued a call for a second special session, to convene 30 minutes after the close of the current regular session that ends on June 6.
Lawmakers will have to address a serious budget shortfall in order to balance the budget, which they are required to do. However, legislators are legally blocked from raising revenues in the current regular session and so another special session is needed. The lawmakers raised $1.2 billion in the first special session, but state officials calculate that another $600 million must be found, either by cuts or increases.
The new Governor favors a change in the personal and corporate income tax, reported Elizabeth Crisp of The Advocate, but the move is not popular.
“I have developed a package of proposals that would specifically address our immediate crisis without threatening the programs that the vast majority of the people of Louisiana consider to be important,” the Governor said in a May 27 press release.
“Currently, K-12 education, higher education, critical health care services, and TOPS face devastating cuts. Without additional revenue, K-12 education will face a $50 million cut, higher education will face a $47 million cut, and critical health care services and TOPS will face catastrophic cuts. Gov. Edwards is determined to find solutions that adequately fund these programs during this special session,” noted the press release.
Besides the state’s financial crises, there has been little drama in the 2016 regular session for the psychology and behavioral health community.
Telemedicine bills are headed to be signed, including HB 480 that provides for the practice of telemedicine in licensed healthcare facilities and SB 328 which supports telehealth access and is heading for final passage.
A bill authorizing behavioral stabilization units for crisis interventions is being considered for final passage this week. A bill to add starvation to child abuse reporting has been passed in both houses.
A measure to ensure that health service providers are properly licensed in work at substance abuse or mental health specialty courts, SB 210, is being signed.
SB 236, makes certain changes to the emergency certificate for several parishes. It is being signed. And SB 309, by Senator Claitor, amends supervision requirements for certain addictive disorder practitioners in certain custodial environments. It is to be heard this week.
Several changes to public meetings law have stalled and so did a bill to enhance attorney-client exceptions to open meetings law.
One bill to reduce all state public contracts by 15% was tabled, while another, HB 454, which requires the reporting, review and approval of certain consulting contracts by the Joint Legislative Committee is being sent to the Governor for signature.
SB 114, passed by both houses, requires approval by the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals for any salary adjustments for certain management boards falling under the auspices of the department.
Also affecting boards, HB 909 requires board members to serve until a replacement is appointed. It has been signed by Governor Edwards. And HB 812 requires maximizing of office space in state buildings.
HB 252 provides exception for the LPC board from the law regarding rights of ex-offenders, has passed.
SB 461, a measure to change certain things about mental health professionals and custody evaluations, is pending in committee and not moving.
Making national news, the Governor signed HB 953 last week making it a hate crime to target police or first responders. Called the “Blue Lives Matter,” the measure tacks on additional punishments if the crime is deemed to be a hate crime, aimed at a person for their identity, such as race or religion. Louisiana is the first state to add one’s occupation to the list of characteristics in hate crimes.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.