This bill allows crime victims to speak directly to the defendant while delivering a victim impact statement in court. It requires judges to permit these statements to be addressed to the accused, provided the courtroom remains orderly and the defendant is present. If there are more than three family members wanting to speak, the judge can limit the number of in-court statements to maintain decorum. The law also gives the state the option to ask the judge to hear these statements privately if necessary.
SB 11 amends state laws to rename the Louisiana Traumatic Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund and clarifies its management under the Department of Health. The bill maintains the fund's purpose of providing financial support for rehabilitation services to individuals with traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries, using money collected from fees on specific motor vehicle violations like speeding and driving under the influence. It also outlines how the fund is administered, including the role of an advisory board that includes representatives from advocacy groups and survivors of such injuries. Additionally, the legislation ensures that the fund serves as a last-resort funding source after Medicare and Medicaid benefits have been exhausted.
This bill modifies the existing sick leave policy for school employees by adding a specific definition for "disabled" to the law. It directly affects teachers and staff who may need to take leave due to disability, ensuring their eligibility is clearly defined under state regulations. The key change involves inserting a legal reference to a specific statute that outlines what constitutes a disability, thereby clarifying the conditions under which employees can use sick leave. This amendment aims to provide greater clarity and consistency in how sick leave is granted to school workers facing health challenges.
SB 57 amends the law governing the practice of psychology to clarify the scope of services that licensed professionals may provide. The bill specifically updates the definition of psychological services to include diagnosis and treatment for mental, emotional, behavioral, and addiction disorders for individuals, groups, or families. It also adjusts terminology to specify that these services must be delivered by a licensed psychologist with post-graduate training. These changes aim to refine the legal framework for psychologists without altering the fundamental requirements for licensure.
This bill defines ranked-choice voting and instant runoff voting as systems where voters rank candidates by preference and votes are transferred to lower-ranked choices if no candidate initially wins a majority. Despite providing these definitions, the law explicitly prohibits the use of ranked-choice voting for any local, state, or federal elections in Louisiana. The only exception allowed is for absentee ballots cast by military personnel and overseas voters under federal law. By outlawing this voting method for general elections, the legislation ensures that future elections in the state will continue to use traditional plurality voting systems.
This bill amends state law to create a process for doctors to request exceptions when health insurance plans restrict access to certain medications. Specifically, it allows physicians to bypass standard approval steps for drugs used to treat postpartum depression if the medication's specific indication is not yet approved by the FDA. The law requires insurance companies to provide an easy online way for doctors to apply for these overrides and to grant them quickly when supported by sound clinical evidence. Although the bill includes language about this provision, it currently has no impact because it was recalled from committee and did not advance to a vote.
This bill creates financial support for police officers in Louisiana who are injured while performing their duties and cannot work as a result. It allows these officers to attend college or university without paying tuition, fees, or room and board charges, provided they meet academic standards and maintain a C average. The state will also provide a $250 per semester cash grant for books, covering the time needed to earn a bachelor's degree but not exceeding ten semesters. Funding for these benefits comes from the state's general fund.
This bill authorizes the creation of tax increment financing districts specifically for parishes that meet certain size requirements to support economic development projects. The legislation allows local governments to capture a portion of the increased property tax revenue generated by new development within these designated areas and reinvest it into further growth initiatives. Recent amendments adjusted the specific numerical thresholds used to determine which parishes are eligible to establish these financing districts.
This bill clarifies how Louisiana courts treat separate business entities, such as corporations and limited liability companies, that are owned or controlled by the same parent company. It establishes that simply sharing directors, offices, or accounting systems does not automatically allow a court to ignore the legal separation between these affiliated businesses. The law protects these corporate structures from being treated as a single unit unless there is specific evidence of wrongdoing, such as fraud, that would normally justify piercing the corporate veil. This change applies to all existing and future business organizations while preserving special rules for insurance regulations and other specific laws that already require consolidated reporting.
This Louisiana bill creates a new criminal offense specifically for election fraud and forgery, directly affecting voters, election officials, and anyone involved in the registration or conduct of elections. It prohibits actions such as voting multiple times, casting ballots under false pretenses, registering or voting in another person's name, forging election documents, and possessing official ballots or registration certificates without authorization. The law establishes penalties ranging from fines up to $2,000 and up to two years in prison for a first offense, with harsher penalties of fines up to $5,000 and up to five years in hard labor for repeat offenses.
This bill creates the Louisiana Vertiport Development Fund to support the statewide construction and expansion of vertiports, which are landing sites for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The Department of Transportation and Development will be responsible for establishing rules on how money from this fund is distributed. Funding for the fund will come from future legislative appropriations as well as any grants, gifts, or donations the state receives for this purpose. Additionally, the bill ensures that any interest earned on investments made with the fund remains available for future vertiport projects.
This bill updates Louisiana tax laws to clarify how the Department of Revenue must send notices to taxpayers when taxes are assessed or unpaid. It requires officials to mail these notices by certified mail within two days of an assessment or within thirty days of a missed payment, with specific instructions for international addresses. The law also mandates that these notices clearly explain the tax amount, the reason for the assessment, and the consequences of non-payment, such as property seizure. These new mailing and notification rules will apply to all notices issued on or after August 1, 2024.
