The session was aimed at reforming both auto and home insurance with some success. There is some concern with the potential impending Medicaid cuts on the State budget due to recent passage of federal legislation, but Senator Henry stated the State may be good in the short term. The following is a brief review following our Principles and Priorities we had for this session.
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
We were able to defeat a bill that would have allowed for exceptions for rape and were able to facilitate funding with Rep. Glorioso for Metanoia House (the Catholic-operated home for girls who have been trafficked) of $300,000.
We facilitated a resolution (HR 311 Rep. Amedee) to begin to determine how many doctors are practicing Restorative Reproductive Medicine in Louisiana, the preferred method by USCCB to treat infertility.
We were unsuccessful in stopping a pro-IVF industry bill (ACT 116 Sen. Pressley). We were able to defeat a bill that would have put at risk support for those who have been wrongfully convicted, but a bill to speed up the execution process passed.
We opposed two pro-gun bills that passed and now will allow guns at parades (ACT 271 Rep. Bamburg) and near schools (Act 420 Sen. Miguez).
Call to Family, Community and Participation
We were able to assist in the passage of ACT 190 (Rep. Bayham) that will allow insurance coverage for nurses doing home visits for newborns and supported ACT 228 (Rep. Miller) that will improve doula services.
In the area of protection for domestic violence; we supported ACT 255 (Rep. McFarland) that disables the GPS system on the victim’s car to make it more difficult to stalk. Also, Rep. McFarland’s ACT 349 increases the foster care adoption tax credit. We supported ACT 236 (Rep. Schlegel) to increase online protection of minors by requiring age verification from App providers.
Catholic Schools
The major disappointment was in not passing any increase in funding for parental choice. The added 50 million that the Governor requested was removed on the Senate side. The current Louisiana Scholarship kids will be funded with possibly a few hundred more.
Also, private schools will now be required to use a 10-point grading scale for TOPS ACT 356. We were successful in delaying the Computer Science requirement for one year.
We are working to mitigate the impacts on non-public schools (ACT 409) that would overregulate pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 schools with financial impact on our schools.
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
We were able to pass the LCCB-facilitated bill ACT 108 (Sen. Price) to address poverty through statewide coordination and best practices. Not surprisingly, the increase in minimum wage bill failed, and LCCB testified as usual on our teaching.
We were able to defeat, of course with other partners, some terrible bills aimed at criminalizing homelessness. LCCB actively testified that the Louisiana Interagency Council on Homelessness offers the most comprehensive and dignified approach.
We supported a bill that would increase funding to senior centers but is subject to appropriations by the state ACT 348.
Solidarity in Restorative Justice
There were several immigration related bills that passed with many aimed at those receiving State services ACT 351 (Rep. Henry) to be checked for status.
We opposed one bill ACT 17 (Rep. Firment) that passed that prohibited the recovery of general damages and loss of future wages for undocumented individuals, unless the suit is for damages under the individual’s own uninsured/underinsured insurance policy in an automobile accident.
Another bill ACT 399 (Sen. Morris) will allow criminal charges to be filed against anyone who does not cooperate with federal immigration, focused on those in public office.
We supported Youth Back on Track (ACT 209 Rep. Lyons) that will provide funding for restorative and rehabilitative juvenile programs in detention centers
Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers
Besides the increase in the minimum-wage bill that failed, a major restructuring of the Department of Children and Family Services and the Workforce Commission will hopefully lead to more integration and allow more people to experience the dignity of work.
We also opposed another anti-union bill that failed that unfairly targeted public unions and would make it more difficult to continue union membership.
Care for God’s Creation
There was some movement in remediating old oilfield sites that pose a danger especially to children across the state particularly in rural areas.
We were able to facilitate House Resolution 278 (Rep. Miller) that requests the LSU School of Health Science to study the impact, if any, of environmental risk factors on maternal outcomes. This was one result from the Catholic Health Conference on the environment and maternal outcomes.
Institutional
One bill passed that will now require more reporting, ACT 467 (Sen. Cloud), by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and more scrutiny of funding to NGOs. We have been communicating with local diocesan CFOs on this issue and will provide them further insight based on the final bill that passed.
Catholic Faithful Citizenship Day, Masses for Legislators and Adoration
- At our Catholic Faithful Citizenship Day, we had over 180 in attendance, mainly from Catholic high schools from four dioceses across the state. There was very good interaction with the legislators and the youth.
- The two Masses were celebrated by Bishop Marshall and Bishop Deshotel. Attendance increased somewhat and the Governor and some of his staff did attend the Mass celebrated by Bishop Deshotel.
- The Adoration pilot project was implemented using two different locations and times. It appears that the early time of 7 AM till 10 AM worked best and the more secluded and quieter Wimberly Room offered more. There were three legislators and eight overall including the public in the Mediation Room and five legislators that attended the Wimberly Room and stayed a long time.
- Finally, the Louisiana House of Representative unanimously passed HR 168 on the election of Pope Leo and his Louisiana roots. This was followed by a special presentation to Archbishop Aymond of the resolution with coverage in local social media.