The 2013 legislative session in Baton Rouge is three weeks from its close on June 6 and lawmakers are steeped in debate on a number of issues. Several bills dealing specifically with the New Orleans area are also moving through the Legislature, including authorization a massive riverfront development, changes to pensions for firefighters and financial restrictions on the St....
The 2013 legislative session in Baton Rouge is three weeks from its close on June 6 and lawmakers are steeped in debate on a number of issues.
Several bills dealing specifically with the New Orleans area are also moving through the Legislature, including authorization a massive riverfront development, changes to pensions for firefighters and financial restrictions on the St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office.
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House Bill
41, Rep. Jeff Arnold, D-New Orleans: Would change the make-up of the
board of the New Orleans Firefighters Pension and Relief fund, shrinking its
membership and requiring a two-thirds vote for benefit increases.
Where is
it? Senate Retirement Committee
Steps until
law? Three -- Must pass Senate committee and on Senate floor; then would head to governor's desk for signature
or veto.
-
House Bill
50, Rep. Kevin Pearson, R-Slidell: Would increase the amount New Orleans
firefighters contribute to their retirement system.
Where is
it? Senate Retirement Committee
Steps until
law? Three -- Must pass Senate committee and on Senate floor; then would head to governor's desk for signature
or veto.
-
Senate Bill
242, Sen. Ed Murray, D-New Orleans: Would allow hotels in New Orleans to
vote to assess themselves a fee that would be used mainly for tourism
marketing.
Where is
it? House floor.
Steps until law? Two -- Must pass on House floor with two-thirds vote; then would head to governor's desk for signature
or veto.
-
House
Bill 383, Rep. Joe Lopinto, R-Metairie: Would allow Jefferson Parish to
lease its two public hospitals to outside interests without a vote of the
people.
Where is
it?
Legislative Bureau
Steps
until law?
Three -- Must pass Senate
floor with majority vote; then would head to governor's desk for signature
or veto.
-
House Bill
516, Leger: Would allow the Ernst N. Morial Convention Center to enter
into a public-private partnership for a significant riverfront development that
would include the World Trade Center site.
Where is
it? House floor.
Steps until
law? Multiple -- Must be passed by the House and then passed by the Senate; then would head to governor's desk for signature
or veto.
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House
Bill 559, Rep. Jared Brossett, D-N.O.: Would allows public entities with
buildings damaged during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to employ the
"design-build" method of construction.
Where is
it?
Senate Transportation Committee
Steps
until law?
Three -- Must be passed in Senate
committee and on Senate floor with majority vote; then would
head to governor's desk for signature or veto.
-
House
Bill 561, Rep. Tim Burns, R-Mandeville: Would strip financial powers of St.
Tammany Coroner Peter Galvan and give these powers to the parish.
Where is
it?
Senate Judiciary B Committee
Steps
until law?
Three -- Must be passed in Senate
committee and on Senate floor with majority vote; then would
head to governor's desk for signature or veto.
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune state politics reporter Jeff Adelson contributed reporting.
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