FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 25, 2003
CONTACT: SENATE OFFICE OF
COMMUNICATION
PHONE: 225-342-9737

STATE SENATE WRAPS UP WORK OF 2003 REGULAR SESSION

FOCUSES ON EDUCATION, COASTAL RESTORATION, PUBLIC SAFETY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS

The work of the 2003 Regular Session of the Louisiana State Legislature is now complete. Over the past three months with over 3100 bills filed for consideration at the session, state senators focused their energies on taking the next steps to improve the state's education system and to capitalize on the economic development opportunities at our colleges and universities. Senators also tackled the tough problem of dealing with coastal erosion which constantly threatens our state.

"We were able to approve a balanced budget that maintains our efforts in education, economic development and health care while at the same time reducing state debt by $95 million over the next three years. I think it is important that we invest tax dollars in areas that will make a difference in Louisiana, investments that are already paying off," Senate President John Hainkel said.

Legislators continued the state's commitment to capitalize on the economic development opportunities connected to research at our colleges and universities by investing over $72.7 million in research relating to information technology, biotechnology, cancer treatment and prevention and gene therapy. Just one day after the session ended, state investments in such research over the past few years paid off when the National Center for Research Resources, a part of the National Institutes of Health, awarded Tulane University, a part of the state-funded Gene Therapy Research Consortium, a five year $4.3 million grant to establish a center for the preparation, quality testing and distribution to researchers of adult stem cells.

The Senate sought to secure some $14 billion in federal assistance over the next twenty years to restore Louisiana's valuable coast and wetlands. This fall voters will have a chance to approve a constitutional amendment to dedicate the first $35 million of non-recurring money each year from mineral dispute settlements to the Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Fund. One time funds from other sources could be placed in the fund as well. The state's financial commitment to the coastal restoration program is vital to securing the federal funds.

Another change in the constitution up for public vote this fall will also assist the coastal restoration effort. It would authorize the legislature to limit damage awards connected to coastal restoration projects so that any award is limited to the "fair market value" of the property as is the case in most other states. Without this limit, there can be no real coastal restoration in Louisiana.

Legislators also decided to move the state's accountability program to a new level in an effort to rescue children from schools that despite efforts at the local level continue to fail. Lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment to allow the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to take over management, supervision and operation of failing schools. Schools that are labeled as failing for four consecutive years under Louisiana's school accountability program or do not submit an acceptable plan to address problems at the school could be placed in a school recovery district under BESE control.

In an effort to give teachers more options to deal with discipline problems in the classroom, students who are disciplined in connection with the possession of drugs or alcohol, the possession of a firearm or assault or battery on a teacher or staff member will lose their driving licenses for one year. The new law takes effect in January 2004.

And in one of the most aggressive public safety moves in the United States, Louisiana will soon begin taking DNA samples from everyone arrested for a felony crime and certain sex-related misdemeanor crimes such as a "peeping Tom". The samples will be placed in a crime search data base for use in criminal investigations. The Senate placed an additional $4 million in the state budget to get the new program started. The new law also makes Louisiana eligible for federal funds to tackle the backlog of DNA samples from state inmates.

If you need additional information about any of these important measures or other issues addressed by legislators at the recently completed 2003 Regular Session, you can access the details on the Louisiana State Legislative website at legis.la.gov .

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