Rep. Barbara Carpenter

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies child support guidelines to give judges more flexibility in determining support amounts based on the specific needs and circumstances of the child and parents involved. It mandates that support orders must be at least as high as the standard schedule but allows courts to order a portion of the payment into a special trust fund for the child's education or medical expenses. These funds would be managed by a trustee until the child turns twenty-four, with strict rules to prevent the money from being spent prematurely. The changes aim to ensure that long-term financial security for children is built into support agreements while maintaining a minimum baseline for immediate support.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the employment status of workers at housing authorities in Louisiana, specifying that most staff members must be part of the state civil service system. It allows these authorities to designate one specific employee and contract-based professionals to remain outside this system while keeping other workers classified. Additionally, the legislation provides a process for a housing authority to voluntarily choose to opt out of the state civil service entirely by passing a resolution and notifying the state civil service director. These changes aim to define how housing authority employees are categorized and managed under state employment rules.

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 summaryHB 340 requires public school governing authorities to establish a tracking system for parental complaints. The bill mandates that schools record and monitor these complaints to ensure they are addressed consistently. This measure directly affects school districts and the parents who file grievances regarding school policies or operations. By creating a formal log, the legislation aims to improve transparency and accountability in how schools handle parental concerns.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies how employment laws apply to workers who use medical marijuana. It ensures that employees cannot be fired or disciplined solely for having a valid medical marijuana prescription, but it explicitly allows employers to take action if an employee uses the drug or is impaired while on the job or driving company vehicles. The changes specifically protect workers from discrimination based on their medical status while maintaining safety rules for those operating vehicles or heavy equipment during work hours.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the text of a previously passed law regarding teacher and school employee compensation by changing the word "enacted" to "reenacted" in the first section. The change does not introduce new requirements, funding levels, or eligibility criteria for educators. Instead, it serves as a technical correction to the legislative language used to describe the law's status. Consequently, the bill has no direct impact on salaries, benefits, or the operations of schools beyond clarifying the statute's wording.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows schools to administer specific medications to students under defined conditions. It requires the state Department of Education to create and share a list of approved medications and permits training for administration to be provided by medical emergency organizations, registered nurses, or licensed physicians. The legislation directly impacts school administrators, staff, and students by establishing a formal process for managing student health needs during the school day.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a state statute to require school nurses to receive in-service training on caring for students with sickle cell disease. The change directly affects school nurses by updating the legal reference in the relevant code section from R.S. 17:236.5 to R.S. 17:436.5. While the text indicates the bill has no practical impact, it formally modifies the existing law to ensure the correct citation is used for the training requirement.