Legislature measures that passed

• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jun 26, 2009 - Page: 7A

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Louisiana lawmakers passed about 560 bills during the regular 2009 regular session that adjourned at 6 p.m. Thursday.  Below are summaries of some of the key issues and how they turned out.

Some of the bills have not been signed into law by Gov. Bobby Jindal. New laws take effect on Aug. 15 unless the bill says otherwise. Resolutions, which are usually an expression of sentiment that do not carry the effect of law, go into effect without the governor’s signature.

To read the bills and their summaries, go to http://www.legis.state.la.us.

For Advocate archives of legislative coverage, go to http://www.2theadvocate.com/blogs/politicsblog?

Unemployment stimulus

Democratic lawmakers filed at least six bills and resolutions seeking to force Republican  Gov. Bobby Jindal to accept $98 million in federal stimulus money for beefing up unemployment benefits. Adopting a position taken by other Republican presidential contenders, Jindal argued that the expansion could lead to higher payments by businesses once the stimulus money ran out.

None of the bills passed committee.

State Rep. Avon Honey, D-Baton Rouge tacked an amendment onto another bill to  accept the federal dollars. Honey was widely criticized by the governor’s supporters and others who had voted for Honey’s amendment in the House without apparently having read it.

Earlier this week, the legislation, which had been approved by the Senate Finance Committee, was sent for a second-hearing before the Senate Labor Committee, which rejected the bill. House Bill 841.

School board revamp

Four measures were filed to revamp local boards. Three of the bills were sidetracked in committee. The centerpiece, a proposal that gave local superintendents the sole authority to hire, fire and transfer school personnel, failed in the House. House Bill 851.

New diplomas

High school students would be offered a chance to earn a “career diploma” that backers say would help prepare them for a career, technical school or community college.