Rep. Francis Thompson

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Louisiana laws to allow licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists to receive supervision through virtual video conferencing. It requires the state board to create specific rules for this remote supervision, ensuring it meets the same standards as in-person training through secure technology. The legislation also modifies experience requirements for licensure, permitting candidates to count up to three thousand hours of supervised practice that includes this virtual format.

Maddy summaryHB 558 amends the Local Healthcare Provider Participation Program by correcting a specific reference to a state code section from 1287.7(A) to 1248.7(A). This change appears to be a technical correction intended to align the bill with the correct legal citation for the program's administration. The legislation directly affects the state's healthcare provider participation framework but does not alter funding levels or eligibility criteria. It is a procedural amendment focused solely on fixing a citation error within the existing statutory language.

Maddy summarySB 434 is a procedural amendment that modifies the text of a bill regarding vape use in schools by removing specific language about providing something. The change does not alter the actual policy or rules concerning vaping in educational settings, as the amendment only affects the wording of the original legislation. Consequently, this bill has no direct impact on students, schools, or vaping regulations and serves solely to refine the draft text before it proceeds further.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the installation and use of newborn safety devices at designated infant relinquishment sites under the state's Safe Haven Law. It directly affects hospitals and other facilities that serve as safe drop-off locations for parents wishing to surrender their newborns anonymously. The legislation allows these sites to use specific safety devices to facilitate the safe transfer of infants to medical professionals. This change aims to provide a secure and standardized method for handling newborn surrenders at these locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new crime called coerced criminal abortion by means of fraud, which prohibits anyone from knowingly giving an abortion-inducing drug to a pregnant woman without her knowledge or consent. It also amends existing laws to explicitly classify attempted abortions as a crime and adds the specific act of using drugs to cause an abortion to the state's list of racketeering activities. Under the new provisions, offenders face prison sentences ranging from five to twenty years and fines between ten thousand and one hundred thousand dollars, depending on the gestational age of the pregnancy and the risk to the woman's health. The law applies to any person who engages in these actions, not just medical professionals, and ensures that a conviction under this bill does not prevent further prosecution for more serious offenses like murder if the woman is harmed or killed.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state sales tax rebate for businesses purchasing equipment, machinery, and other items used in lithium recovery activities within Louisiana. The rebate applies specifically to projects that are being evaluated, developed, constructed, or operated in the state, and it expands eligible activities to include injection processes alongside production. By offering this tax incentive, the legislation aims to reduce the upfront costs for companies investing in local lithium recovery operations. The bill includes several amendments that clarify the geographic scope and operational requirements for qualifying projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Louisiana Pregnancy and Baby Care Initiative, a state program designed to support pregnant women and newborns. It requires the relevant state department to create specific rules that ensure the program is clinically effective, financially stable, and held to high performance standards. The legislation also mandates that the department report its annual progress to the legislature, including details on oversight and penalties for failing to meet program goals.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes sanctuary policies in California, which limit local law enforcement's cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The law directly affects police officers, jails, and other local agencies by prohibiting them from inquiring about a person's immigration status or detaining individuals solely based on immigration violations. Key provisions include restrictions on sharing information with federal immigration officials and barring local jails from holding people without a valid court order. The text also includes minor grammatical corrections to ensure consistent language throughout the statute.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates laws regarding the release of mug shots by law enforcement agencies and websites that charge fees to remove them. It generally prohibits police from sharing booking photos with the public unless specific exceptions apply, such as when the person is a fugitive, poses an immediate threat, has been convicted of certain crimes, or is charged with serious offenses like sex crimes or violence against minors. The legislation also requires that any released photo include a disclaimer stating that all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty, unless the individual has already been found guilty. Additionally, it mandates that websites charging fees to delete mug shots must remove the image within seven days if the person was acquitted, not prosecuted, or had their charges expunged, and it bars these sites from charging any fee for such removals.

Maddy summaryThis 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.