Committee action, May 28: SB 215, SB 188

DID YOU KNOW?

SB 215 by Sen. David Heitmeier would allow for Mississippi River ferries in the New Orleans area to be operated with money from the state. Rep. Jeff Arnold explained to the House Appropriations Committee that without Crescent City Connection tolls, in order to run ferries money that would have gone to the CCC from fees collected from trucks and trailers in Orleans Parish that also go to the Causeway to pay off its bonds. The other half had been paying off CCC bonds but now would go to the Chalmette ferry. It would not include the Canal Street ferry although a subsequent agreement could include operation of more, and the $4 million subsidy would sunset in 2018.

Rep. Robert Billiot asked about privatization efforts and whether attempts would continue. He was told they were looking at the Regional Transit Authority (which is not a private operator) to do that next year.

With no opposition, the bill passed.

Legislative regular session through May 25, 2013

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 6 with minor amendment passed the Senate; HB 8 with minor amendment passed the Senate; HB 98 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; HB 111 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; HB 582 passed the Senate; SB 20 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 31 with minor amendment passed the House; SB 36 passed House committee; SB 90 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 165 passed House committee.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 174 passed Senate committee and the Senate; HB 233 failed to pass the House; HB 352 passed Senate committee; HB 682 passed House committee; SB 33 passed House committee; SB 61 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 63 with minor amendment passed House committee.

SCORECARD

Committe action, May 21: HB 625, SB 33

DID YOU KNOW?

HB 625 by Rep. Randal Gaines would undo the loosening of tenure protections previously passed in terms of disciplinary procedures for teachers. It claimed many procedural issues from previous reform that needed resolution, and was causing confusion.

Rep. Nancy Landry from the House Education Committee pointed out that this seemed pretty much like the system that had been replaced, and that had caused an unrealistically-low removal rate of ineffective teachers. Gaines said the previous effort was too hasty and a familiar system was best to correct for the asserted shortcomings. Landry said this turned the focus away from achievement and these changes in the bill broke the link between outcomes and continued employment. She said there may be procedural problems worth fixing, but that this bill went far beyond that.

Rep. Chris Broadwater asked who would pay for these added procedures, which seemed to him this would increase costs on schools. However, it was possible that arbitrators would pass costs onto other parties.

Legislative regular session through May 18, 2013

Interestingly, this week one bill made the unusual move of going from one category to another. HB 693 had started as a bad bill because it expanded the use of motion picture investor tax credits. But as a result of committee action this week, it became not only more like HB 696 which limits exposure to credits, but goes even farther. Thus, it flips categories.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 6 passed Senate committee; HB 8 passed Senate committee; HB 68 was substituted for by HB 729; HB 161 was withdrawn; HB 525 was approved by Senate committee; HB 582 passed House committee; HB 693 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 725 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 727 passed House committee; SB 4 was withdrawn; SB 45 passed House committee; SB 165 with minor amendment passed the Senate,

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 174 passed Senate committee; HB 240 passed House committee; HB 352 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 387 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 706 failed to pass the House; SB 33 passed House committee; SB 63 passed the Senate.

Committee action, May 13: SB 215, HB 693, HB 268

DID YOU KNOW?

SB 215 by Sen. Francis Heitmeier would force funding for Mississippi River ferries by transferring operations to metropolitan New Orleans’ Regional Transit Authority. The House Transportation, Highways, and Public Works Committee was told that they would collect fees, but then also take money from license plate fees in the area. This was in response to the state defunding their operations.

It attracted no substantial questions or opposition, and therefore was approved without objection.