January 26, 1999

HOUSE COMMITTEES TO HEAR PREFILED BILLS

    Beginning January 18, the third Monday in January, standing committees of the Louisiana House of Representatives may act on pre-filed bills for the 1999 Regular Session, under a newly enacted procedural rule. The rule, which went into effect in April of 1997, allows House committees to debate and vote on pre-filed House bills before the start of the session. Prior to this rule, committees could hear bills, but had to wait until the session began before any action could be taken.

    This week marks the first implementation of the new rule.

    "We reached a point where the number of bills to be considered in a general session is overwhelming," said House Speaker Hunt Downer. "This is the perfect way to alleviate some of the workload during session and maintain public participation at the same time."

    In addition to other action, the House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure will meet on January 27 at 9:00 a.m. in House Committee Room 3 to hear House Bill 8 of the 1999 Regular Session. That legislation seeks to increase the amount of the surety bond required for non-attorney notaries public.

    The Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice will meet next week, on February 2, 3 and 4. Pre-filed bills will be discussed on the last two days of the meeting.

    The following is a list of pre-filed legislation to be considered on those dates.

HB 20 ANSARDI- CRIME/BATTERY: Clarifies definition of battery of a correctional facility employee.

HB 22 DUPRE-LEASES: Provides relative to the leasing of video cassettes.

HB 32 DEVILLE- CRIME: Creates the crime of aggravated assault upon an elected public official.

HB 63 SCHNEIDER-CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Prohibits the earning of "good time" for inmates convicted two or more times of certain attempted sex offenses.

HB 64 THOMPSON-PARDON/PAROLE: Requires the Board of Parole to order infectious diseases testing prior to placing persons on parole.

HB 67 HUNTER-CRIME: Creates crime of video voyeurism.

HB 69 BOWLER-POLICE/LOCAL: Provides relative to the training requirements for retired peace officers.

HB 82 FAUCHEUX-CRIME/SEX OFFENSES: Provides relative to criminal defendants under the age of twenty-one charged with carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

HB 91 MORRELL-GAMBLING: Provides with respect to disqualification criteria for gaming entities.

HB 102 CHAISSON-INDIGENT DEFENSE: Provides that the Twenty-ninth Judicial District Indigent Defender Board may pay per diem to members for attendance at board meetings.

HB 108 WINDHORST-GAMBLING/CHARITABLE: Provides for a second progressive bingo game.

HB 109 WINDHORST-CRIMINAL/SENTENCING: Provides method of correcting certain criminal sentences.

HB 129 WINDHORST-GAMBLING/CHARITABLE: Provides for bingo caller to be employee of charitable organization.

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