Rep. Ken Brass

Maddy summaryHB 103 requires certain public bodies, specifically city councils and their committees, to broadcast meetings live via television or the internet to improve public access. The bill includes a specific provision stating that there is no requirement to broadcast committee meetings where the members are volunteers. This legislation aims to increase transparency by mandating live streaming for eligible government gatherings while creating an exception for volunteer-led committees.

Maddy summaryThis resolution asks the Louisiana Department of Education and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to stop using specific "edu-tainment" videos in classrooms. It targets content from the nonprofit PragerU, which the bill claims promotes discriminatory and anti-Semitic viewpoints alongside conservative political messages. The measure cites examples of videos that present contested historical claims and criticize social movements, arguing these materials conflict with the state's goal of providing a just and humane learning environment. Because this is a non-binding request rather than a law, it urges state officials to review and potentially ban these resources without creating new legal mandates.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Louisiana state laws to change how the boards of commissioners are formed for specific gravity drainage districts in Ascension Parish. Under the new rules, the East Ascension district board would be made up of local council members representing areas within the district, while the West Ascension board would consist of a specific council member, the mayor of Donaldsonville, and one appointed official. Additionally, the bill clarifies that all work and services for these two districts will be managed and carried out by the Ascension Parish president and existing parish departments. These changes aim to align the leadership structure of the drainage districts with the current local government framework in Ascension Parish.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a specialty license plate in Louisiana featuring the text "LSU Baseball National Champions." The legislation directs the Department of Public Safety to design and sell these plates, which will be available to any vehicle owner in the state. By adding this new option to the list of approved specialty plates, the bill allows drivers to display their support for the LSU baseball team on their vehicles. The text of the law is updated to include this specific plate design within the existing regulations governing vehicle license plates.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules for selecting professional service contracts in Louisiana by removing a specific exception that currently allows certain contracts to bypass standard selection requirements. The legislation directly affects government agencies and entities responsible for awarding professional service contracts valued between $500,000 and $1 million. By repealing the cited legal exception, the bill aims to ensure these mid-sized contracts are processed under the same competitive selection procedures as other public contracts. The changes apply only to the specified budget range and do not alter the requirements for contracts outside those limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing education laws to ensure that cardiac health information is provided to student athletes and their parents. It specifically clarifies that the state's requirements for this information must be met at a minimum level, removing language that previously suggested a higher standard. The change affects school districts and athletic programs by reinforcing the baseline obligation to share heart health data with families. No new funding or specific testing protocols are added; the text simply adjusts how the current mandate is phrased.

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 summaryThis bill requires every public and approved nonpublic secondary school in Louisiana to print the number "988" on the back of all student identification cards. The measure also mandates that schools post the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number on their websites to ensure easy access to help. Effective July 1, 2024, the law aims to make suicide prevention resources more visible to students and staff.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies an existing law to expand the list of specific medical treatments covered when a governor declares a state of emergency. It directly affects residents who need to seek care outside their home state during such emergencies by adding chemotherapy, radiotherapy, dialysis, and heart surgery to the list of covered services. The change ensures that these critical procedures are recognized under the same out-of-state coverage rules already in place for other treatments.