Rep. Candace Newell

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pilot program to help prisoners transition from prison to mental health care. It requires the corrections department to allow incarcerated individuals to join the program, removing the previous requirement that they must apply for it. The legislation aims to streamline access to mental health services for inmates as they prepare for release.

Maddy summaryHB 906 amends the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act by making specific technical corrections to the text of the law. These changes adjust references to subsections and paragraphs within the statute to ensure the legal language is consistent and accurate. The bill directly affects the state's campaign finance regulations but does not introduce new reporting requirements or alter how candidates and committees must disclose funds. Instead, it focuses on clarifying existing rules by fixing citation errors in the legislative code.

Maddy summaryHB 329 amends the Health Care Employment Reinvestment Opportunity Fund to expand how the Louisiana Department of Health can use its money. The bill allows the department to fund grants that support training and education programs for residents entering nursing and allied health fields, including financial incentives for students. It also authorizes funding for internships at licensed healthcare providers in the state and permits up to ten percent of the annual fund to be used for administrative costs. Additionally, the law requires the Louisiana Board of Regents to share specific information and documentation about relevant training programs with the department to help implement these initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how educational benefits are distributed to veterans by adding two new requirements. First, it gives the Department of Veterans Affairs secretary the sole discretion to decide who receives these benefits. Second, it mandates that all beneficiaries must provide proof of financial need to qualify. These changes directly affect veterans and their families who rely on government-funded education support.

Maddy summaryHB 694 creates the Louisiana Music Commission as a new entity within the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. The bill establishes a thirteen-member commission, with most members appointed by the lieutenant governor and two appointed by the secretary of state, all subject to Senate confirmation. These appointments must include at least one member from a minority group, and the lieutenant governor selects the commission's chairman. The legislation also outlines how vacancies on the commission will be filled by the official who originally made the appointment.

Maddy summaryHB 267 is a procedural bill that does not yet establish specific requirements for numeracy education in Louisiana schools. Instead, it sets a condition stating that the law will only take effect once the legislature passes a separate bill providing the necessary funding. This measure directly affects the implementation timeline for any future numeracy programs targeting kindergarten through third-grade students. Because the bill relies on future funding legislation to become active, it currently serves as a placeholder rather than an immediate policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the existing sickle cell disease management plan for students by adding the word "a" before "sickle" in the title. It does not introduce new policies, funding, or operational changes to how schools handle student care. The legislative action is purely a technical correction to the bill's title to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the licensing rules for the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, allowing it to issue temporary permits and licenses to specific individuals. The change clarifies that these permits are intended for situations where medical services are provided only in limited or temporary contexts. By adjusting the wording on the page, the legislation ensures the board has the authority to grant these short-term credentials without the full requirements of a permanent license. This update directly affects medical professionals who may need temporary authorization to practice under restricted conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a monthly supplemental payment of $600 for full-time fire protection officers employed by the Port of South Louisiana. To qualify for this extra compensation, officers must have completed at least one year of service and hold a recognized firefighter certification, such as NFPA 1001 or an approved maritime training program. The state will fund this additional pay, which will increase automatically if the base supplemental pay for other state employees is raised. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the role of the state child ombudsman by clarifying that they cannot access the names or identifying details of individuals who report child abuse, with specific exceptions for cases involving federal child support laws. It also introduces a new internal review process requiring a second level of approval within the department whenever an initial investigation into abuse allegations is deemed inconclusive. These changes aim to protect reporter privacy while adding an extra step to ensure thoroughness when abuse reports are not definitively resolved.