Rep. Denise Marcelle

Maddy summaryThis bill requires educational institutions and agencies offering commercial driver training to include human trafficking education in their curriculum. The training must be in place by January 1, 2025, but the specific provisions take effect earlier, on August 1, 2024. This change directly affects schools and organizations that teach driving skills to commercial vehicle operators. The legislation aims to ensure that future commercial drivers are informed about human trafficking risks as part of their standard training.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the condolences of the Louisiana House of Representatives for the death of Tammy Janell Downs, who passed away on May 6, 2024. The document highlights her life as a mother, wife, and community member, noting her connection to Representative Pat Moore as his step-daughter. It serves as a formal acknowledgment of her loss and extends sympathy to her surviving family and friends.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for barber colleges in Louisiana by setting the minimum age for student admission at sixteen, with an exception allowing high school freshmen to enroll if the college operates within a high school. It also adds a new section to allow out-of-state registered barbers to apply for a certificate to practice in Louisiana if they meet specific qualifications and pay the required fee. The legislation clarifies that these new provisions apply to both existing and future barbering regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school principals to inform parents if their child is taught by an uncertified teacher, someone with a non-standard certificate, or a teacher authorized to teach without certification. Under the new rules, principals have the option to send these notifications rather than being strictly required to do so. The law also specifies that the notice must include details about the type of non-standard certificate held or the reason for the teacher's authorization to teach without one. This change applies directly to school administrators and families in districts where such teaching situations occur.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Louisiana public school boards to create sick leave bank programs for teachers, bus operators, and other school employees. Under the new rules, employees can donate their accumulated sick leave directly to a colleague, but they cannot donate more than half of their total leave balance at the start of the school year. Additionally, the bill mandates that at least 90 percent of the leave funds in these banks must be kept available for future use rather than being spent down each year. Local school districts are responsible for developing and managing these policies to ensure the programs function as described.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution expresses the Louisiana Legislature's intent that laws regarding sexual abuse of minors should not have time limits on when victims can file lawsuits. It specifically addresses a recent court ruling that declared previous attempts to revive expired claims unconstitutional, arguing that such time limits do not create permanent rights for the accused. The bill asserts that the state has a legitimate interest in addressing child abuse by allowing victims to seek justice regardless of how much time has passed since the abuse occurred. Ultimately, it serves as a formal legislative statement supporting the removal of expiration dates for these specific legal claims.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a task force to study school start times and requires the State Department of Education to submit written reports on the findings. The task force will include representatives from various education and business organizations, with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber member serving as chair. The bill mandates that the task force and the department conduct their studies simultaneously and submit their respective reports. This measure directly affects school administrators, educators, and policymakers by creating a formal process to evaluate current start times.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for moving retirement service credit between different public pension systems in Louisiana. It requires that when a worker transfers, the receiving system gets the smaller of the actual money contributed or a calculated amount based on employee contributions, employer contributions, and interest. The law specifically defines how to calculate employer contributions for certain systems to ensure the transfer amount is accurate. These changes take effect on June 30, 2024, and directly impact public employees who move between covered retirement plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of United States Highway 51 in St. John the Baptist Parish as the "Arnold J. Labat Memorial Highway." The designated section runs between United States Highway 61 and Interstate 10. By officially naming this road, the legislation honors Arnold J. Labat, though it does not alter traffic rules or funding. The change is purely symbolic and applies only to the named portion of the highway within that parish.

Maddy summaryThis bill urges the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to allow incarcerated parents to virtually attend specific ceremonies involving their children. It does not mandate this permission but instead requests the department to consider it as a policy option. The language has been adjusted to reflect this non-binding nature by changing directives to "urge and request" rather than "encourage." Ultimately, the measure aims to facilitate family connections for imprisoned parents without imposing a strict requirement on correctional facilities.