Local Legislators’ bills become law

While batting around budget ideas, local legislators had their own offerings that they hoped would become the new law of the land.
In total, local state senators and representatives offered 45 bills and resolutions to be considered in the session, which must end no later than 6 p.m. today. Of those the following fates have been decided for bills and resolutions:
• House Bill 641: In regard to gaming, the bill relates to the central computer monitoring system for gaming regulation. The bill was authored by Rep. Mickey Guillory, D-Eunice.
The bill was signed by Gov. Bobby Jindal and become Act 19 Tuesday, May 26. It goes into effect Saturday, Aug. 1.
Basically, very little is changed in regard to the computer’s location. Guillory looked to add “at live racing facilities” as an option for the operation of the central computer system and the reading of electronic gaming devices.
Revised Statute 27:30.6 already allowed for the operation and reading on licensed riverboats.
• Senate Bill 6: In regard to roads and highways, the bill names U.S. Highway 167 between the southern corporate limits of the village of Maurice and the northern corporate limits of the city of Abbeville in Vermilion Parish as the “Deputy Allen Bares Jr. Memorial Parkway.”
The bill was authored by Sen. Jonathan Perry, R-Kaplan, primarily, and co-authored by 24 other legislators, including Guillory, D-Eunice.
The bill also directs the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain appropriate signage for the designation. It was signed by Jindal Friday, May 22, as Act No. 10 and goes into effect Saturday, Aug. 1.
Five other measures sit on Jindal’s desk for consideration to be signed. They include the following:
• HB 8: In regard to police and municipal, the bill provides relative powers be granted to the chief of police for the city of Crowley. Specifically, the chief of police is authorized to appoint, discipline and discharge police personnel and related matters, subject to budgetary limitations established by the mayor and board of alderman pertaining to the number of allotted positions for the department.
This bill is notwith-standing the provisions of Revised Statute 33:423 or any other provision of law to the contrary.
The bill, authored by Rep. Jack Montoucet, D-Crowley, was last enrolled Thursday, May 28, and sent to the governor for executive approval. It was also signed by the president of the Senate Monday, June 1, and sent to Jindal for executive approval Tuesday, June 2.
• HB 28: In regard to highways, the bill designates portions of certain highways. Specifically, it designates a portion of Louisiana Highway 91 in Acadia Parish as the “Corporal Matthew Thomas Richard Memorial Highway”; a portion of Louisiana Highway 347 in St. Martin Parish as the “Albert ‘Pyook’ Berard Highway”; a portion of Louisiana Highway 35 in Acadia Parish as the “Veterans Parkway” and a portion of U.S. Highway 190 in St. Landry Parish as the “Davina Chapman Memorial Highway” as well as related matters, including directing DOTD and its contractors to erect and maintain appropriate signage for these designations.
Cpl. Richard’s designation would run along the Iota Highway (Highway 91) between its intersection east of the town of Egan at the Egan Highway (Louisiana Highway 100) and its intersection with Louisiana Highway 98 in the town of Iota.
The Berard designation would run along Highway 347 (already designated the Cecillia Senior High South Highway) between its intersection with Louisiana Highway 686 (the Coteau Rodaire Highway) and its intersection with Louisiana Highway 328 (the Anse Broussard Highway).
Veterans Parkway would run along Louisiana Highway 35 between the northern and southern city limits of Rayne.
The Chapman designation would run on a portion of Highway 190 within the municipal limits of the town of Krotz Springs.
The bill is authored primarily by Montoucet and was amended to include several of the designations leading to 16 co-authors.
It was enrolled by the speaker of the house Tuesday, June 2; signed by the president of the senate Thursday, June 4; and sent to Jindal for executive approval Friday, June 5.
• HB 147: In regard to tax and hotel occupancy, the bill authorizes the town of Duson to levy a hotel occupancy tax.
Specifically, the bill, authored by Montoucet, authorizes Duson to levy and collect a tax upon the paid occupancy of hotel rooms located within the town. The hotel occupancy tax shall not exceed 4 percent of the rent or fee charged for such occupancy.
The tax would be imposed by ordinance or resolution, but only after a proposition authorizing the levying of the tax has been approved by a majority of the electors in the town.
The bill was enrolled and signed by the speaker of the house Tuesday, May 26, and signed by the president of the senate Wednesday, May 27. As of May 27, it was sent to the governor for executive approval.
• HB 201: In regard to tourism and commission, the bill relates to the board of directors of the Acadia Parish Convention and Visitors Commission.
Specifically, the bill states that the Acadia Parish Convention and Visitors Commission shall be governed by a board of 11 directors appointed by the governing authority of Acadia Parish. Also, the governing authority of Acadia Parish may determine the initial terms of additional directors provided for by this bill, authored by Montoucet.
The bill was enrolled and signed by the speaker of the house Tuesday, May 26, and signed by the president of the senate Wednesday, May 27. As of May 27, it was sent to the governor for executive approval.
• HB 285: In regard to pest control operators, the bill relates to fees established for certain structural pest control business owners.
Specifically, the bill, authored by Montoucet, removes or rewords several portions of Section 1 of Revised Statute 3:3374(A) including the following: standard contract fee would be not more than $16, removing the minimum fee; the fee for each wood destroying insect also would not exceed $16 and removes the minimum.
This bill was sent to Jindal’s desk Wednesday, June 3, after being enrolled and signed by the speaker of the house Monday, June 1, and signed by the president of the senate Tuesday, June 2.
• HB 447: In regard to civil service and fire and police, the bill relates to the start of the working test period for entry level firefighters in certain municipalities.
Specifically, Montoucet’s bill, states that in municipalities with a population between 200,000 to 240,000, according to the most recent federal decennial census, no person selected for appointment to an entry-level position in the classified service from the competitive firefighter employment list who has not successfully completed formal training, but can be employed as a recruit and immediately begin his formal training.
This bill was sent to Jindal’s desk Tuesday, June 9, after being signed Monday, June 8, by the president of the senate and enrolled and signed by the speaker of the house.
Several other offerings from Sens. Morrish and Perry were also sent to the governor’s desk Tuesday, June 9, after being enrolled and signed by both Congressional heads.