The 2003 Louisiana legislative session continues – with a number of moral
and social issues expected to begin moving soon.
Bills have been filed on various issues, including abortion, AIDS, alcohol,
gambling, marriage and pornography.
The 2003 Louisiana legislative session continues – with a number of moral
and social issues expected to begin moving soon.
Bills have been filed on various issues, including abortion, AIDS, alcohol,
gambling, marriage and pornography.
Because of the various issues at stake during the legislative session, it is
vital that concerned citizens remain alert and aware, emphasized Ken Ward, executive
director of the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation.
“Persons need to be informed and ready to respond appropriately and timely
relative as issues are debated and decided in this session of the Louisiana
Legislature,” Ward said. “Louisiana is fortunate in the sense that
the citizens of this state has more access to the legislative than most states
in our nation, but the access is only valuable if it is used.”
One means of staying informed is through the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation,
Ward reminded persons. Persons may e-mail the foundation at lamoral@aol.com
and ask to be placed on its network. Members receive information on pending
bills, as well as analysis and assistance, when requested, Ward said.
Thus far in the session, Ward identified 20 bills that have generated the most
interest. They include:
House Bill 825. The measure would persons under 21 years of age
from being present at certain establishments where alcoholic beverage are served.
It is designed to close a loophole in Louisiana law. Under current law, persons
18-21 may visit such establishments but not be served alcohol. However, officials
say that loophole makes it impossible to enforce the no drinking law for those
under 21.
Senate Bill 77. This measure would regulate how close alcohol service
providers may be to licensed day care centers and would place day care centers
in drug free zones.
Senate Bill 479. The measure would include passengers in the “open
container” prohibition against drivers of vehicles. Again, the intent is
to close a loophole that bans drivers from having open containers of alcohol
but allows passengers to have them.
Senate Bill 677. The measure would provide protection from discrimination
and harassment for students.
House Bill 8. The measure would requires local voter approval before
Indian gaming could be conducted.
House Bill 1280. The measure would authorizes the municipality
of New Llano in Vernon Parish to call a local option election to allow the operation
of video poker. The bill is dangerous because such referendum previously were
held on parishwide basis, Ward explained. Vernon Parish voted out video poker,
but a municipality within the parish now seeks to overturn that vote just in
their area. Allowing such votes would open Louisiana to a host of small referendums
on video poker, Ward warned.
House Bill 958. The measure would requires two-thirds vote for
enactment of any statute expanding gaming or authorizing a new form of gaming.
House Bill 1050. The measure would designate a portion of the Sabine
River and Sabine Lake in Cameron Parish for the purpose of conducting riverboat
gaming.
House Bill 1130. The measure would authorize the municipality of
Ville Platte in Evangeline Parish to call a local option election to allow the
operation of video draw poker devices. (See House Bill 1280 above)
Senate Bill 507. The measure would authorize the town of Richwood
in Ouachita Parish to call an election to allow the operation of video draw
poker devices. (See House Bill 1280 above)
Senate Bill 919. The measure would authorize the state to enter
into Indian gaming compacts for up to seven-year terms and provide a process
for compact negotiation and approval.
House Bill 473. The measure would repeal the termination date of
the current human cloning prohibition.
House Concurrent Resolution 112. The resolution would direct the
House Committee on Civil Law and the Senate Committee on Judiciary A to meet
and receive testimony and reports on the results of an empirical study of covenant
marriage legislation.
Senate Bill 947. The measure would limit the liability for a pastoral
counselor operating under the requirements of a covenant marriage.
Senate Bill 383. The measure would require that clergy be considered
mandatory reporters of information regarding child abuse, with a narrow exception
of information obtained during confession/reconciliation.
Senate Bill 863. The measure would expand definition of obscenity
to include materials electronically communicated over the Internet.
House Bill 1542. The measure would provide for a special election
to be held at the gubernatorial primary for the purpose of submitting an advisory
proposition regarding voluntary prayer in public schools.
House Bill 854. The measure would establish the Louisiana Education
Voucher Program.
House Bill 1337. The measure would establish the Vouchers for Students
in Failing Schools Pilot Program.
House Bill 1771. The measure would create the Louisiana Parental
Choice in Education Program.
Senate Bill 985. The measure would create the Louisiana Parental
Choice in Education Program to provide a means for parents of certain school
children to choose among school, including private schools, for enrollment at
no cost to the parent.
Most of the cited measures are pending hearings in committee – although some
have begun to move.
Ward urged persons to identify bills of key concern, use available means of
monitoring the status of the measures and respond accordingly.
To contact the governor
Governor Mike Foster
P.O. Box 94004, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9004
Call: (225) 342-7015
Fax: (225) 342-7099
To contact state senators
Senator John or Jane Doe
Senate Office
P.O. Box 94183, Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Call: (225) 342-2040
Fax: (225) 342-0617
To contact state representatives
Representative John or Jane Doe
Speakers Office
P.O. Box 94062, Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Call: (225) 342-6945
Fax: (225) 342-8336
The La. Moral and Civic Foundation
P.O. Box 2951, Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Call: (225) 767-1908
Fax: (225) 767-1913
E-mail: lamoral@aol.com
Visit the Internet: www.lmcf.org
To monitor bills
Go to Web site at www.lmcf.org
Click on … Legislative
Click on … Legislative Program Resources
Click on … La. Legislature Home Page
Click on … Session Info
Click on … 2003 Regular Session
Click on … means of tracking bills