Sen. Ed Price

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Louisiana's State Police Retirement System by clarifying key definitions and administrative rules. It defines terms like "Board," "Fund," "Distributee," and "Pension plan" (Section 1301), specifies membership requirements (Section 1305), and details how "average salary" is calculated for retirement benefits (Section 1307.1), including rules for converting unused annual/sick leave to retirement service (Sections 1333-1334). The changes directly affect current and future Louisiana State Police members and retirees by standardizing benefit calculations and service credit. The bill focuses on procedural clarity within the existing retirement framework without altering benefit amounts or eligibility thresholds.

Maddy summarySB 11 modifies the funding rules for the Louisiana State Police Retirement System to ensure stable benefits for retirees, beneficiaries, and survivors. It requires automatic increases in employer contributions (capped at 2.35%) if projected contributions decrease, effective July 1, 2024. The bill mandates these adjustments to cover benefit increases without needing new legislative action each year. Funding will come from additional employer contributions as specified in the state constitution.

Maddy summarySB 8 adds the Louisiana Asset Management Pool as an eligible employer in Louisiana's Municipal Employees' Retirement System. This means the Pool can now participate in the retirement system, allowing its employees to access the same retirement benefits as other municipal employees. The bill achieves this by amending the definition of "employer" in the retirement system statute to explicitly include the Pool. The change directly affects the Pool's employees and the retirement system's administrative structure.

Maddy summarySB 20 changes how Louisiana sets annual employer contributions for the School Employees' Retirement System and other public retirement systems. It repeals three existing sections of law that previously governed contribution calculations and the handling of actuarial gains, streamlining the process for determining these payments. This update directly affects state and local government employers who fund these retirement plans. The bill modifies the legal framework without altering specific contribution rates or funding amounts.

Maddy summarySB 10 amends Louisiana law governing employer contributions to the State Police Retirement System. It revises how the legislature calculates required annual contribution rates by removing outdated references to specific sections (102.4 and 1332) that previously affected the process. The bill directly affects the State Police Retirement System's funding mechanism, changing how contribution rates are determined each fiscal year. The changes streamline the administrative process for setting these rates without altering benefit levels or new funding requirements.

Maddy summarySB 21 amends Louisiana's state employees' retirement system funding rules, directly affecting state employees and the retirement system's financial management. It establishes new rules for calculating employer contributions and reamortizing the system's unfunded liability (retirement fund shortfall), requiring reamortization when the system reaches 80% funding or every five years starting in 2019-2020. The bill modifies how excess investment returns are applied to reduce the debt and clarifies that payments must follow specific amortization schedules. These changes aim to systematically address the retirement system's financial obligations without altering benefit levels.

Maddy summarySB 96 creates a special "Fallen Heroes" license plate for Louisiana motor vehicles, requiring at least 1,000 applicants to activate the plate. It mandates an annual $25 fee (plus a $3.50 handling fee) for the plate, collected by the state motor vehicle department. The $25 fee is specifically directed to the Capital Area Law Enforcement Foundation to purchase bulletproof vests for Louisiana peace officers. This is a procedural bill focused on license plate design, fee collection, and fund allocation, with no other substantive policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 104 designates a specific segment of Louisiana Highway 1 in Pointe Coupee Parish (from the intersection with Highway 78 to the Pointe Coupee Parish line) as the "Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway" to honor the renowned author. The bill requires the state transportation department to install signage only if local or private funds cover the costs (capped at $750 per sign for materials and installation). This is a commemorative measure with no substantive policy changes, directly affecting the designated highway corridor and its signage. The bill is currently in the prefiling stage and has not yet been voted on.

Maddy summarySB 103 names a section of U.S. Highway 425 in Wisner, Louisiana (from the northern to southern city limits in Franklin Parish) as "Gladys Edwards Highway." It requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs for this designation, but only if local or private funds cover the department's actual costs for materials and installation - capped at $750 per sign. This is a ceremonial bill with no policy changes to transportation funding or infrastructure. The bill is currently pending referral to the Transportation Committee.

Maddy summarySB 160 designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 171 in Florien, Louisiana (from the northern to southern village limits in Sabine Parish) as "Joe R. Salter Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install and maintain signage for this designation only if local or private funds cover the department's actual costs for materials and installation, with a maximum cost of $750 per sign. This is a purely commemorative measure with no policy changes affecting residents, businesses, or state funding beyond the signage costs. The bill has been prefaced and referred to the Transportation Committee but has not yet advanced further.