The Louisiana Legislature introduced a total of 4,087 Bills during the 1997 Regular Session. 1487 of these bills were signed by the Governor into law or became law without his signature (4). 16 of the numbered acts were constitutional amendments to be approved by the electorate. A total of 1503 instruments were assigned act numbers by the Secretary of State. Of the 1522 bills passing the Legislature, 19 were vetoed by the Governor.
MAJOR ISSUES HANDLED BY THE HOUSE and SENATE
SB 361 - Cruelty to animals.
SB 1264- Animal Lemon Law.
HB 1382 - Creates the crime of cockfighting.
HB873/SB 1387 - Budget Stabilization Fund.
HB 1130 - Increased State Supplemental Pay for police, firemen, and deputy sheriffs.
HB 2 - State's $1.95 Billion Capital Outlay Budget
HB 1 - State's $12.6 billion budget provided funding for the following with no additional taxes:
 | $65.2 million for a teacher pay raise. |
| $16.1 million for permanent raises for non-teaching personnel and $6.8 million for a one-time salary supplement for non-teaching personnel. |
| $9.7 million to annualize last year's raise for higher education personnel. |
| $30 million for enhanced reading and math programs. |
| $38.2 million for classroom technology, with another $6.8 million if the money becomes available |
| $1 million for a principals training fund. |
| $3 million in additional aid to non-public schools. |
| $11.4 million for a teacher supplies fund. |
| $15.5 million in higher education funding enhancements. |
| $20.3 million to bring a military computer center to the University of New Orleans that backers say will produce 1,500 high-paying jobs and have a $272 million impact on the state economy. |
| $3.28 billion level in state and federal money for Medicaid. |
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
HB 1839 - Changing the State's Drug Asset Forfeiture Law
SB 914 -Hate Crimes
HB 646 - Drug Testing State Elected Officials
HB 2435 - Drug Testing Welfare, State Contract and Loan Recipients
HB 1645 - Letters to Pardon and Parole Boards Regarding Inmates
SB 1547 - Underage Tobacco Sales
HB 78 - Chemical Castration
HB 11 - Shoot the Car jacker
HB 118 - Church Burnings
HB 182 - Increased penalties for distribution, dispensing and possession with intent to distribute or dispense cocaine.
SB 1064 - Increased penalties/impoundment for driving without insurance.
HB 1377 - Provided for registration and tracking of sex offenders, sexually violent predators, and child predators.
SB 330 - Constitutional Amendment to provide for a Crime Victim's Bill of Rights.
CIVIL LAW
HB 756 - Covenant Marriages
K-12 EDUCATION
HB 1 - $1000 pay raise for teachers.
HB 2068 - School and District Accountability System
HB 1911 - Classroom-based Technology Fund
HB 2233 - K-3 Reading Literacy and Math Initiative
HCR 245 - Public School Teachers $1,000 - $1,400 Pay Raise
HB 2074 - Teacher Staff Development Raise (2 for 1997-98 school year)
HB 2068 - School and District Accountability Advisory Commission
HB 1380 - Teacher Supplies Fund
HB 2065 - Charter School Program
HB 2154 - Louisiana Tuition Opportunity Program (TOPS Scholarships)
HB 1932 - Teacher Award Scholarship
HB 429 - Statewide two-year Community College System
HB 1, HB 2322 - Increased funding for the model "Youth Challenge Program".
HB 1379 - Created a Leadership Development Fund to be used to coordinate an existing development training for current and existing education, business, and community leaders.
HB 708 - Creates BESE as an advisory board.
HIGHER EDUCATION
SB 1272 - Increasing State Board of Regents Authority
SB 1281 - Higher Education Innovative Fund
HB 429 - Authorizes legislature to provide for a community college system and transfer of certain institutions.
HB 162 - Repeals requirement that honors scholarship recipients shall not be eligible for any other gratuitous financial assistance or support from the college or university attended or from any alumni organization or foundation.
SB 1068 - Transfers the Louisiana Technical College - New Orleans campus from BESE to Delgado Community College under the management of the Board of Trusties for state collages and universities.
HB 967 - Environmental Self Audits
HB 2480 - Ban on Computer Aided Gambling
SB 1295 - Slot Machines at Horse-Racing Tracks
HR 65, SR43, SCR 126 - New Casino Contract.
HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
HB 1 - Appropriates $3.8 billion for Medicaid Budget
HCR 4 1, HB 847, HB 925 - Health Care Pilot Programs
HCR 180 - Establishes the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) System
HB 1162 - Transfer of the Charity Hospital System to LSU
SB 500 - Rural Hospital Preservation Act
SB 1558 - Minors Seeking Abortions
SB 943 - Partial Birth Abortions
HB 1720 - IO Year Limit to Sue Doctors Performing Abortions
HB 1088 - Expanded liability protections for "free" care delivered by licensed health care professionals.
HB 1049 - Authorized extension of moratoriums to 4 additional years for home health agencies and 2 additional years for nursing homes.
HB 2513 - "No Pay, No Play" Auto Insurance Reform
SB 1064 Impounding Uninsured Vehicles
HB 1590 - Genetic Testing
HB 491 - Workforce Development
HB 863 - Raising Legislative Compensation and Office Expenses
HB756 - Establishes laws on covenant marriage.
SB 37 - Same sex Marriages.
HB 276, 536, 990; SB 673, 747 - Child support through age 21.
SB 1492 - Cheniere Ronquillo Heirs.
HB 863 - Legislative Pay Raise.
SB 1561 - Transfers Weights and Standards Police to the Office of the State Police.
HB 520 - Stiffening DWI Penalties/Underage Driving Under the Influence
HB 411 - Toll Roads
SB 222 Raising Speed Limits
HB 530 Raising the Minimum Age for a Drivers License
SB 14 - Requires headlights on motor vehicles when continuous use of windshield wipers are required.
SB 355 - Senate Redistricting for Monroe, Lafayette and Baton Rouge
HB 581 - La. Supreme Court Redistricting
SB 320 - Senior Homestead Exemption
HB 1593 - Inheritance Tax Phase Out
Several - Hotel/Motel Tax Dedications
HB 596 - Refused to further broaden homestead exemption, thereby helping business and economic development.
HB 491 - Created new La. Workforce Commission to match worker training with the needs of business.
HB 493 - Created Customized Workforce Training Fund which uses excess worker's comp. monies to provide training while reducing employers' taxes and raising workers' comp benefits.
HCR 26 - Established Task Force on Post-Secondary Education to make recommendations on state's post-secondary education system.
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