Rep. Denise Marcelle

Maddy summaryHB 282 requires Louisiana employers to assess whether an applicant's criminal history has a direct, adverse relationship to specific job duties before denying employment. It mandates consideration of factors like rehabilitation efforts (e.g., education, vocational training), juvenile offenses, and job-relatedness of the offense. The Louisiana Commission on Human Rights enforces the law, investigating complaints and ordering remedies like corrective hiring actions or up to $1,000 per violation, but prohibits private lawsuits. This bill directly affects job applicants with criminal records and employers across Louisiana seeking to hire them.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HCR 3) is a concurrent resolution directing the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) to amend rules governing outdoor advertising signs along highways. It requires increased spacing between signs (500-1,000 feet on most highways), bans stacked signs after July 31, 2025, and prohibits new permits for stacked configurations. The changes aim to reduce driver distractions and preserve scenic highway views, directly affecting billboard companies, property owners, and businesses that operate signage near roads. The resolution modifies existing DOTD rules to align with safety and beautification goals under the Highway Beautification Act. Note: The bill’s title incorrectly references SNAP benefits; the actual content addresses outdoor advertising regulations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution commends Patricia Lowrey-Dufour upon her retirement as the senior legislative analyst for the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs with House Legislative Services. It formally recognizes her nearly four decades of dedicated service to the Louisiana Legislature, acknowledging her expertise and significant contributions to the institution.

Maddy summaryHB 179 amends the composition of the Capital Area Transit System's board of commissioners by requiring new appointees to be retired union members. This change directly affects who can serve on the transit system's governing board, altering the eligibility criteria for board positions. The bill's key provision, added via Amendment No. 1, modifies the membership requirement to prioritize retired union members. The bill has advanced through committee and passed to third reading in the current legislative session.

Maddy summaryHB 405 requires the secretary of state to publish specific election law changes online. The secretary must post updated election law codes within 30 days of receiving them from the legislature and provide links to all election-related laws passed during a session - including effective dates, keywords, and summaries - within 90 days after the session ends. This ensures the public can easily access the full text and details of new election laws through the secretary’s website. The bill affects the secretary of state’s duties and improves public transparency about election law changes, without altering voting procedures or rules.

Maddy summaryHB 486 requires Louisiana public schools to offer mental health assessments to certain students. It defines which mental health professionals can conduct these assessments, including licensed mental health providers (like psychologists or counselors) and behavioral health service providers licensed by the state. Schools must use providers from these categories and can find current provider lists through licensing boards or the state Department of Health website. The bill focuses on creating clear pathways for schools to access qualified mental health professionals, directly affecting public schools and the students they serve.

Maddy summarySB 61 requires insurers to provide consumers with a copy of the specific credit information they used when underwriting or setting rates for personal insurance policies (like auto or home insurance). This directly affects policyholders who apply for or renew personal insurance, giving them transparency into the credit data influencing their premiums. The key provision mandates that insurers must disclose this credit information upon initial application or renewal, rather than keeping it confidential. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate but does not change how credit data is used in rate calculations, only requiring disclosure to consumers.

Maddy summaryHB 479 requires the state to create a new victim and witness notification system that integrates with the existing criminal justice information system. It directly affects victims of violent crime by guaranteeing their right to receive a free copy of their initial police report under state law. Key provisions include building this system in coordination with the Integrated Criminal Justice Information System Policy Board and ensuring all components meet specific legal standards. The bill also explicitly adds the free police report access as a standard right for violent crime victims. This focuses on improving access to case information for affected individuals.

Maddy summaryHB 540 clarifies the definition of "gross device revenue" for video poker machines under existing law. It specifies that this term means the total cash inserted into three video draw poker devices over a consecutive three-month period, explicitly stating this definition does not affect how "net device revenue" is calculated. The bill directly affects casinos and regulators who use these revenue metrics for compliance or taxation under Louisiana's gambling statutes (referencing R.S. 27:402). This is a definitional amendment to ensure consistent application of current regulations, not a new policy change. The bill is currently pending in the Committee on Appropriations after recent committee amendments.

Maddy summarySB 96 sets new Medicaid reimbursement rules for certain behavioral health services in Louisiana, directly affecting providers of partial hospitalization programs at inpatient psychiatric hospitals serving adults and seniors. The bill requires the Louisiana Department of Health to establish annual reimbursement rates for these services through separate legislative funding each year, replacing the previous requirement to use 100% of Medicare rates. This change gives the state flexibility to adjust rates based on available funding rather than tying them directly to Medicare benchmarks. The bill does not change eligibility or coverage but alters how providers are paid for specific behavioral health care delivered in hospital settings.