Just a few days after the completion of a special session of the legislature where lawmakers successfully dedicated new state gambling revenue to support education pay raises, state senators returned to the state capital to begin the regular legislative session which runs through June 18, 2001. Unlike the last session which was limited to the discussion of fiscal matters, this session will address a wide range of issues with just under 1000 bills "pre-filed" for consideration.

"This is the first general session since members of the 2000-2004 state senate took office last year," Senate President John Hainkel (R-New Orleans) said. "It is the first opportunity for new and returning senators to file bills on any topic. To date, we haven’t seen the number of requests for legislation that we’ve seen in the past, but we will still have a very full slate."

Senate President Hainkel believes several important issues will be discussed including the development of a policy to protect the state’s water supply; the modernization of the state’s system of collecting taxes; the possible appointment rather than election of the state insurance commissioner and the state elections commissioner; alternatives to incarceration in the state’s corrections system and, of course, state spending.

"The big issue, even in a general session, is always the general appropriations bill. Determining how the monies of the people are going to be spent over the next year will be complex, as usual," Senate President Hainkel said.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman State Senator Jay Dardenne (R-Baton Rouge) agrees that state budget decisions will loom large again this year at the regular session, but believes the work of the special session to begin to address the education pay issue will make the discussions a little easier.

"At least that piece of the puzzle is solved, if the gaming revenue we have set aside for education is determined to be recurring. It may not be the complete amount teachers want, but it is certainly a very significant amount and that is a good thing for us as we enter the budget discussions," Senator Dardenne said.

In the area of corrections reform, state senators will consider a number of proposed changes in state law to look for alternatives to sending non-violent offenders to jail. The expanded use of drug courts where convicted criminals are put through intense supervised treatment, education and job programs is one alternative to be discussed. It is an on-going effort on the part of the senate to do something about Louisiana’s alarmingly high and costly incarceration rate.

As Senator Hainkel explains, "Our state’s high incarceration rate seems to me, from a purely fiscal standpoint, bad policy, but perhaps more importantly, from a moral standpoint it is bad policy. Those individuals who can be saved by keeping them out of jail and rehabilitating them and making them get an education is what we ought to aim at doing."

The Senate is getting off to a fast start at the regular session with a full schedule of committee meetings to consider senate bills. Legislators can continue to introduce bills for consideration at the regular session through April 24^th, although members are limited to five bills each unless senate rules are suspended.

Citizens can keep up with proposed legislation, committee meetings and more by going to the Senate web page on the Internet at http://senate.la.gov or they can call the Public Update Legislative Services Line or PULS Line ( 342-2456 in the Baton Rouge area or toll free 800-256-3793 outside Baton Rouge). The PULS Line operates 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM when the legislature is not meeting and from 8:30 AM until adjournment during session.

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Photo #1 - (Suggested caption) - "Senate President John Hainkel (R-New Orleans) discusses the Senate work schedule for the regular session with Senate Secretary Mike Baer (left) and Senate President Pro-tempore Louis Lambert (D-Prairieville).