Rep. Kim Carver

Maddy summaryHB 256 clarifies that school employees, including those in charter schools, must follow existing mandatory reporter laws. It directly affects teachers, staff, and other school employees who are already required to report suspected child abuse under Louisiana law. The bill amends two statutes to ensure school employees comply with training and reporting requirements previously mandated for child care providers, removing any ambiguity about charter schools being exempt. This creates a consistent policy requiring all school employees to complete Department of Children and Family Services training and report suspected abuse.

Maddy summaryHB 1253, known as the Gracey Claire Rushing Act, updates Louisiana laws to improve how coroners document and handle human remains and internal organs. The bill requires detailed autopsy reports that include specific personal information, medical findings, and a record of any retained organs, while keeping these reports private except for law enforcement or court orders. Family members and the decedent's physician are granted the right to receive a copy of the report upon request. The legislation is named in memory of a child whose death in 2009 prompted calls for better safeguards in the treatment of remains.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a task force to examine Louisiana's Minimum Foundation Program formula, which determines how state and local funds are distributed to public schools. The group will study ways to create a stable, permanent funding source for teacher and support staff pay raises, ensuring these increases are not dependent on temporary or one-time money. The bill directly affects school systems, educators, and taxpayers by aiming to replace uncertain, short-term funding with a predictable long-term solution. By analyzing the current complex funding structure, the task force will provide recommendations to improve clarity and sustainability for school budgets and employee compensation.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows jurors in Louisiana's Nineteenth Judicial District to voluntarily donate their jury duty pay to the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, which supports children in the court system. The legislation creates a pilot program where jurors can choose to contribute their per diem compensation to CASA during jury orientation, with the court clerk managing the collection and distribution of funds. The bill also ensures that information about participating jurors remains confidential and is not part of public records. This change applies only to the Nineteenth Judicial District and is limited to a two-year trial period.

Maddy summaryHB 892 creates the West End Economic Development District in Jefferson and Orleans parishes, specifically covering three defined parcels: a parking lot area in New Orleans, adjacent state-owned land in Jefferson Parish, and related water bottom leases. The district, established as a local government entity, aims to boost economic development, tourism, and job creation through commercial projects and infrastructure. It will be governed by a five-member board appointed by Jefferson Parish's District 5 representative, New Orleans' District A representative, and two others. The bill outlines the district’s boundaries, purpose, governance structure, and funding mechanisms without proposing new taxes or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 555 defines financial exploitation of vulnerable adults (such as elderly individuals) as scams, fraud, impersonation of officials, or deceptive schemes that cause them to transfer money to strangers. It requires banks to delay suspicious transactions for up to 15 business days, extendable to 25 days if a covered agency requests an extension. This gives time to investigate potential scams before funds are transferred, directly affecting banks and vulnerable adults targeted by financial fraud.

Maddy summaryHB 448 expands existing scholarship programs to allow firefighters injured in the line of duty (or their spouses if the firefighter was killed or seriously injured resulting in inability to work) to use their benefits for master's degree programs, not just bachelor's degrees. The bill maintains full tuition and fee waivers (including room and board) and a $250-per-semester book stipend for qualifying individuals who maintain a "C" average. Eligibility requires meeting college entrance requirements and academic standards as full-time students. The policy change, funded by Louisiana's general state fund, applies to both injured firefighters and their spouses directly affected by on-duty injuries or fatalities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the existing statute regarding individual graduation plans for students, specifically by requiring that these plans be updated when applicable. The changes involve minor textual adjustments to the language used in the law, ensuring the requirement for updates is clearly stated. As a procedural amendment, it does not introduce new policies or directly affect student outcomes but rather refines the legal framework governing graduation planning. The legislation has passed the Senate and is now moving to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Maddy summarySB 488 establishes a pilot program to use drones as part of school safety and crisis response plans. The bill directly affects school districts by allowing them to incorporate drone technology into their existing emergency management strategies. It requires the state to fund this pilot program to test how drones can assist during school emergencies. The legislation amends the title to refer to 'Education' instead of 'Schools' to broaden the scope of the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program, administered by the Louisiana Department of Health, to provide restricted-use food purchase cards through qualified nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits must be IRS 501(c)(3) entities that operate food assistance programs and agree to follow reporting requirements, with the program initially launched as a pilot in one region before expanding statewide. The program allows individuals to fund cards directly or for others, prohibits cash withdrawals, and operates separately from SNAP while matching its eligible food items. The department will generate annual transaction reports but will not audit charitable spending or access donor or recipient records, with a final evaluation report due by March 1, 2028.