NOW 2017 List of Legislative Wins and Losses

Wins

	Instrument							Author			Current Status		Considered
17RS - HB6	HOLLIS							Pending Senate Insurance			Considered 5/17/17		more...
	INSURANCE/HEALTH:  Exempts Louisiana residents from the assessment of penalties for noncompliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (EG NO IMPACT See Note)
17RS - HB27					CONNICK			Sent to Governor					more...
					DOMESTIC ABUSE:  Amends the definition of "household member" for purposes of assistance and protection from domestic abuse
17RS - HB71		CARMODY					Pending Senate and Governmental Affairs				Considered 5/31/17		more...
		CULTURE/REC/TOUR:  Provides for the conservation of public military memorials
17RS - HB223			MORENO					Sent to Governor					more...
			DOMESTIC ABUSE:  Provides relative to abuse among dating partners (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)
17RS - HB309				MORENO				Sent to Governor							more...
				CRIMINAL/VICTIMS:  Provides relative to rights of victims of criminal offenses
17RS - HB455			ABRAMSON						Sent to Governor						more...
			SEX OFFENSE/REGISTRY:  Provides relative to sex offender registration and notification
	17RS - HB499					SCHRODER				Sent to Governor				more...
						CRIME:  Provides relative to the crime of stalking

	17RS - HB509	SCHRODER	Sent to Governor		more...
		FAMILY VIOLENCE:  Provides relative to temporary restraining orders

17RS - HB524

SCHRODER

Sent to Governor

more...

CIVIL/DISCOVERY:  Provides relative to the stay of discovery in certain proceedings

17RS - HB681

MORENO

Sent to Governor

more...

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE:  Eliminates restrictions on eligibility for certain public assistance for persons with prior drug convictions (RE1 +$25,000 GF EX See Note)

17RS - HCR26

MORENO

Signed by the President

more...

CRIMINAL/VICTIMS:  Directs the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab and the Louisiana attorney general to study and make recommendations for the implementation of a tracking system relative to the status of sexual assault collection kits

17RS - SB144

JOHNS

Subject to call - Senate final passage

more...

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES:  Provides relative to holders to alcoholic retail dealer's permits for beverages of high and low alcoholic content. (gov sig)

17RS - SB188

HEWITT

Pending Senate Health and Welfare

Considered 5/3/17

more...

MEDICAID:  Provides relative to Medicaid recipient work requirements. (8/1/17) (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

17RS - SB198

MIZELL

Pending Senate and Governmental Affairs

Considered 5/31/17

more...

HISTORIC PRESERVATION:  Provides for legislative approval prior to the removal of monuments by local or political subdivisions. (gov sig)

 Losses

Instrument					Author					Current Status	Considered
17RS - HB112		BOUIE			Pending House Labor and Industrial Relations					Considered 5/3/17	more...
		PUBLIC CONTRACTS:  Requires that any contractor who enters into a contract with a public entity comply with the Louisiana Equal Pay for Women Act (OR INCREASE LF EX See Note)
17RS - HB222				MORENO			Pending House Labor and Industrial Relations			Considered 5/3/17	more...
				EMPLOYMENT:  Prohibits employer retaliation against an employee who discusses wage information
17RS - HB269			L.HARRIS					Sent to Governor			more...
			COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES:  Provides for free expression on college campuses
	17RS - SB24	MORRELL				Pending Senate Finance			Considered 5/16/17		more...
		TAX EXEMPTIONS:  Exempts diapers and feminine hygiene products from state and local sales and use tax. (See Act) (EG -$13,000,000 GF RV See Note)

	17RS - SB27			MORRELL	Subject to call - Senate final passage		more...
				TAX EXEMPTIONS:  Constitutional amendment to exempt diapers and feminine hygiene products from state sales and use tax. (2/3 - CA13s1(A)) (EG DECREASE GF RV See Note)
17RS - SB85		COLOMB		Subject to call - Senate final passage		more...
		STUDENTS:  Authorizes the state Department of Education and the Louisiana Department of Health to survey students regarding certain risk behavior associated with chronic health conditions. (gov sig)
17RS - SB92			TARVER	Subject to call - Senate final passage			more...
			LIABILITY:  Provides relative to civil actions and remedies in matters involving domestic abuse. (8/1/17)
	17RS - SB111		MIZELL	Sent to Governor		more...
			ABORTION:  Requires proof of identification from parents for an unemancipated minor child to obtain an abortion based upon parental consent and requires court-ordered counseling if it is suspected that the minor is a victim of criminal sexual exploitation. (8/1/17) (RE SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

	17RS - SB128	MILKOVICH	Sent to Governor		more...
		CRIME/PUNISHMENT:  Prohibits cutting, resection, excision, harvesting, or removal of a body part, organ, or tissue of an aborted unborn child for sale, commerce, transport, research, or profit. (gov sig)
	17RS - SB153	T.CARTER	Pending Senate Finance	Considered 5/24/17	more...
		EMPLOYMENT:  Provides for an increase in the state minimum wage. (2/3-CAs2.1)(8/1/17) (EG +$195,406 EX See Note)

	17RS - SB155		T.CARTER		Subject to call - Senate final passage			more...
			DISCRIMINATION:  Enacts the Louisiana Employment Non-Discrimination Act. (See Act)
17RS - SCR45		COLOMB		Subject to call - Senate floor				more...
		CONGRESS:  Memorializes Congress to extend or eliminate the currently expired ratification time limit on the Equal Rights Amendment.

Help ratify the Equal Rights Amendment! View this email in your browser The ERA resolution has been introduced in the Louisiana Legislature and it PASSED out of committee on Wednesday!! It is now headed to the Senate floor for a vote! Why the Need for an ERA? Equality in pay, job opportunities, political structure, education, health care including reproductive health care, and education—in particular for women of color, women with disabilities and the LGBTQIA community—will remain an elusive dream without a guarantee in the U.S. Constitution. The progress we have made—and must continue to make—towards women’s equality can be lost at any time because those advances depend on legislation that can be (and has been) weakened or repealed by Congress. Given the current political climate, this is more of a concern than ever. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) ensures that gender equity is codified in the United States Constitution. Though passed by Congress in 1972, and ratified by 35 of the 38 States necessary for constitutional passage, the deadline for ratification passed in 1982. Nevada ratified and now only two more states are needed! Please contact your State Senator and ask them to vote YES on SCR 45 when it comes for a floor vote in the next few days! If you can come to the Capitol and lobby in person, please let us know lalegeupdates.brnow@gmail.com! Find out who your State Senator is and how to contact them here: https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/FindMyLegislators.aspx ERA PHONE/EMAIL SCRIPT (adapt as needed or add a personal story how inequality has affected your life) Hello, my name is [your name] and my zip code is [your zip code]. As a constituent, I am calling to express my concern with the current state of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Although passed by Congress in 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment has not been ratified and added to the United States Constitution. Currently, we need two additional states to reach the three-fourths threshold. Our state is one of those that has yet to ratify the ERA. Without it, there is no guarantee of constitutional gender equality. Therefore, I am reaching out to ask that [name of your State Senator] revisit the ERA as a topic of dire importance. On Wednesday, the Senate and Governmental Affairs committee passed SCR 45 out favorably. With the example set by the ratification of the ERA in Nevada, now is the time to secure this legislation in our state. Please vote YES when this vote comes up on the Senate floor. Women will not be equal in this country until our rights are solidified with the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Our state needs to play its important role in the process. I represent many women in our state that want the ERA to pass. Generations of women have fought for the ERA, it’s time to stand with them. If you are concerned about women’s equality, will you commit to supporting and co-sponsoring the ERA in our State’s legislature? Thank you for your time, I’m counting on you to ratify the ERA so all our citizens are constitutionally protected! Your name Address Phone In addition, please say THANK YOU to our sponsor and the committee members below who voted FOR AND joined as co-authors on SCR 45!   Yvonne Dorsey Colomb (Our sponsor) colomby@legis.la.gov (225) 342-9700 Karen Carter Peterson (Chairman) petersonk@legis.la.gov (504)568-8346 @TeamKCP Wesley Bishop (Vice-Chairman) bishopw@legis.la.gov (504)242-4198 @RepWesleyBishop Troy Carter (Presented the resolution) cartert@legis.la.gov (504)302-3682 (504)324-0708 J.P. Morrell morrelljp@legis.la.gov (504) 284-4794 (504) 284-4796 @JPMorrell Gregory W. Tarver tarverg@legis.la.gov (318) 227-1499 (318) 227-1058 https://www.facebook.com/senatortarver @GregoryTarver Copyright © 2017 Louisiana NOW All rights reserved. Louisiana NOW Advocacy Alerts and Updates Our mailing address is: P.O.Box 66706 Baton Rouge, La. 70896 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

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SB 153 Raise the Minimum Wage bill FAILS to pass AGAIN!

After SB 153 bill sponsor Sen. Troy Carter and three Senators on the Finance Committee - Senators Regina Barrow, Wesley Bishop and Gregory Tarver ALL spoke eloquently on the need and many supporters gave heartfelt and well substantiated testimony, the committee voted down 7 - 3 the bill to raise the minimum wage in LA to $8.00 next year and $8.50 the year after - not nearly what is even needed to keep up with inflation but better than nothing. Only because of myths and misdirection, the business lobby got a party line vote of NO again..

THANK Sen Troy Carter cartert@legis.la.gov for being such an eloquent spokesperson for this cause.

Thanks Senators Barrow, Bishop and Tarver for their support.
barrowr@legis.la.gov, bishopw@legis.la.gov; tarverg@legis.la.gov

Please let other members of the committee, especially if they are YOUR senator, know that you are sorely disappointed in their votes against the bill. Please pour YOUR thoughts into what you say at this predictable but always devastating outcome.

allainb@legis.la.gov; appelc@legis.la.gov; donahuej@legis.la.gov;fanninj@legis.la.gov; hewitts@legis.la.gov; johnsr@legis.la.gov;whitem@legis.la.gov

Legislative Action Alert! Domestic Violence bill HB 27!

HB 27 (Pat Connick) (equal protection for “household members”) did not pass the Senate a few days ago. We need to get support from those Senators who voted against it or who were absent. There may have been some confusion on the Senate floor about the effect of the bill, and the La. Family Forum removing their objection.

here is the link to how the respective Senators voted: https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1044348

HB 27 TALKING POINTS:

• Current Louisiana law on domestic violence defines “household member” as any person of the opposite sex presently or formerly living in the same residence with the offender as a spouse, whether married or not. This would therefore include cohabitating opposite-sex couples but would exclude cohabitating same-sex couples.

•Because of this longstanding distinction, current Louisiana law does not adequately protect victims of domestic violence who are in same-sex cohabitating relationships. Under current law, the State is unable to provide such victims the same protections and justice that would be provided to victims of domestic violence in opposite-sex relationships.

•Domestic violence sadly occurs at a high rate in Louisiana and occurs across all segments of society. Domestic violence transcends lines of race, sex, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation.

•Additionally the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, while not holding that classifications based upon sexual orientation are subject to any level of scrutiny above rational basis and rather ruling based upon marriage being a “fundamental right,” is indicative of a shifting trend in jurisprudence. Moreover, the Supreme Court merely “skirted” that issue and left it for another day, a day which will come eventually. It is probable that the United States Supreme Court will eventually find classifications based upon sexual orientation to be subject to heightened/intermediate scrutiny, and in that event Louisiana domestic violence law will likely fail constitutional muster.

• While adding “dating partner” to Louisiana law on domestic violence is certainly a welcome addition and would give prosecutors a new tool to bring perpetrators to justice and protect victims, this does not change the problematic language in the definition of “household member,” and leaving two separate standards for opposite-sex verses same-sex relationships in domestic violence law in any manner leaves the Fourteenth Amendment equal protection issue unrectified. To avoid a potential constitutional issue, the problematic “of the opposite sex” language must be removed.

•The State has a responsibility to protect all Louisiana residents from abuse regardless of sexual orientation. Everyone has the right to be protected and to receive justice.

•Objections initially raised by the Louisiana Family Forum have been removed with the addition of amendment language added on the House floor 5/2/2017. The reengrossed version of the bill includes the new, Family-Forum-friendly language:
"Household member" means any person of the opposite sex presently or formerly living in the same residence with the offender as a spouse, whether married or not, and who is involved or has been involved in a sexual or intimate relationship with the offender, or any child presently or formerly living in the same residence with the offender, or any child of the offender regardless of where the child resides.

Check the vote for a special message to YOUR senator if he or she voted for or against HB 27 already.

Also ask ALL senators to support this important bill and if you can - come to BR for the vote on Tuesday, May 30.

Senators:
alarioj@legis.la.gov; allainb@legis.la.gov; appelc@legis.la.gov; barrowr@legis.la.gov; bishopw@legis.la.gov; boudreauxg@legis.la.gov; cartert@legis.la.gov; chabertn@legis.la.gov; claitord@legis.la.gov; colomby@legis.la.gov; cortezp@legis.la.gov; donahuej@legis.la.gov; erdeyd@legis.la.gov; fanninj@legis.la.gov; gattir@legis.la.gov; hewitts@legis.la.gov; johnsr@legis.la.gov; lafleure@legis.la.gov; lamberte@legis.la.gov, longg@legis.la.gov; luneauj@legis.la.gov; martinyd@legis.la.gov; milkovichj@legis.la.gov; millsf@legis.la.gov; mizellb@legis.la.gov; morrelljp@legis.la.gov; morrishd@legis.la.gov; peacockb@legis.la.gov; perryj@legis.la.gov; petersonk@legis.la.gov; risern@legis.la.gov; smithj@legis.la.gov; smithgl@legis.la.gov; tarverg@legis.la.gov; thompsof@legis.la.gov; walsworthm@legis.la.gov; wardr@legis.la.gov; whitem@legis.la.gov

SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE-BUDGET-PUBLIC TESTIMONY

BUDGET PUBLIC TESTIMONY (and/or emails if you can't come) - SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, 9 am, Saturday, at the Capitol (and send email!)

Saturday the SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE that has the power to fix SOME of the problems with this year's budget is taking PUBLIC TESTIMONY. Yes, it is a holiday weekend but if you can get to BR on Saturday for 9 am and witness and be heard - it is important.

AN EXAMPLE - Currently the House passed budget cut abut $237 million from the Health Department - cuts that would cost $500 million more in lost federal match so the total effect would be three quarters of a billion dollars - devastating cuts to health. There is about $200 million in money the House has refused to budget at all that could go a long way toward relieving these cuts and others.

Message to email, call and include in your testimony to your Senators and the members of the Senate Finance Committee:

Please pass a budget that invests all available funding on the critical needs we have - Please don't leave $200 million in available funds on the table that should be invested in healthcare, higher education, and safety net programs that are being short changed in the House Budget.

Email addresses for whole Senate Finance Committee (and send your senator a message separately:

lafleure@legis.la.gov; allainb@legis.la.gov; appelc@legis.la.gov;barrowr@legis.la.gov; bishopw@legis.la.gov; donahuej@legis.la.gov;fanninj@legis.la.gov; hewitts@legis.la.gov; johnsr@legis.la.gov;tarverg@legis.la.gov; whitem@legis.la.gov; chabertn@legis.la.gov;morrishd@legis.la.gov; thompsof@legis.la.gov;walsworthm@legis.la.gov

Legislative Action Alert! Budget

Mostly Republican obstructionists in the HOUSE have tried to shut off all means of fixing the budget to benefit people who need state government to work - programs for veterans, protection for abused children, health care for low income, mental health care, better run prisons and parole programs - EVERYTHING we count on the state to do - is at risk because of what this group has done or refused to do.

Yesterday Democrats and a few others took a brave stand - to stop spending on Capital Projects (HB 3) funding until they can get some hope of a compromise to save something out of the budget mess the obstructionists have created...

Please thank those legislators who did stand up for YOU and PEOPLE in General on Wednesday - read more about it here:

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/05/democrats_house_budget.html

Legislators to thank for standing up against devastating cuts to critical needs and for trying to get a better budget out of the House!

larep021@legis.la.gov,armesj@legis.la.gov,bagnerisj@legis.la.gov,billiotr@legis.la.gov,bouiej@legis.la.gov,browntr@legis.la.gov,carterr@legis.la.gov,coxk@legis.la.gov,danahaym@legis.la.gov,franklina@legis.la.gov,gainesr@legis.la.gov,gisclairj@legis.la.gov,gloverc@legis.la.gov,hallj@legis.la.gov,harrisj@legis.la.gov,hilld@legis.la.gov,hunterm@legis.la.gov,iveyb@legis.la.gov,jacksonk@legis.la.gov,james.ted@legis.la.gov,jeffersonpo@legis.la.gov,jenkinss@legis.la.gov,johnsoro@legis.la.gov,joness@legis.la.gov,jordane@legis.la.gov,lebasb@legis.la.gov,legerw@legis.la.gov,lyonsr@legis.la.gov,marcelled@legis.la.gov,marinoj@legis.la.gov,millerd@legis.la.gov,morenoh@legis.la.gov,nortonb@legis.la.gov,pierrev@legis.la.gov,pricee@legis.la.gov,reynoldsg@legis.la.gov,schrodej@legis.la.gov,smithp@legis.la.gov,thibautm@legis.la.gov,whitema@legis.la.gov

LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT!

SB 153 (T Carter) to raise the minimum wage did not get heard today but WILL be on the FINANCE Committee agenda tomorrow (Wednesday) at 12 noon in room A-B.

Please come if you can to support raising the minimum wage - and email all committee members:

lafleure@legis.la.gov; allainb@legis.la.gov; appelc@legis.la.gov; barrowr@legis.la.gov; bishopw@legis.la.gov; donahuej@legis.la.gov; fanninj@legis.la.gov; hewitts@legis.la.gov; johnsr@legis.la.gov; tarverg@legis.la.gov; whitem@legis.la.gov; chabertn@legis.la.gov; morrishd@legis.la.gov; thompsof@legis.la.gov; walsworthm@legis.la.gov