Jindal signs bills on hate crimes, text messaging

• By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jul 4, 2008 - Page: 5A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Gov. Bobby Jindal signed nearly six dozen bills into law Thursday, including legislation targeting hate crimes, cell-phone users and video-bingo machines.

The legislation with the biggest direct impact may be Senate Bill 137, which forbids motorists from text messaging while behind the wheel.

Jindal traveled Thursday to Houma to sign House Bill 1104, which he touted as the most important piece of his legislative package in the recent session.

Through the bill, the Jindal administration is trying to make the state’s worker training programs more responsive to employers’ needs.

The Department of Labor gets a new name, becoming the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission still will oversee unemployment and workers’ compensation programs. However, the agency also will oversee worker training programs now scattered across several state departments.

Regional centers will offer a menu of “help wanted” listings and services that may be vital to obtaining employment such as literacy, child care and housing programs.

In addition to the workforce training bill, Jindal also signed three pieces of legislation dealing with telecommunications devices.

Under Senate Bill 137, motorists will no longer be able to text message while driving.

SB137 prohibits drivers with learner’s permits or intermediate licenses from talking on the cell phone while driving unless they are using a hands-free device. Violators will face a $175 fine on the first offense. The fine increases to $500 on subsequent offenses.

Senate Bill 342 prevents first-year, licensed drivers from using a cell phone.

On a first offense, offenders will have to pay a $100 fine or complete 16 hours of community service, or both.

Senate Bill 159 prohibits drivers 17 and younger from using a wireless telecommunications device to “call or write, send or read a text-based communication.”