For Immediate Release
Contact: Sheila McCant
LA House of Representatives
Office of Public Information
Phone: (225) 342-9795
FAX: (225) 219-4380

June 14, 1999

FRITH COAUTHORS TWO KEY BILLS

    Two bills coauthored by state Rep. Mickey Frith, D-Kaplan, are rapidly making their way through the legislative process. House Bill 206, which has passed the House and is awaiting Senate action, would increase the penalties for attacking a school teacher. Senate Bill 945 would increase the fines for failing to label beef as foreign or domestic. That bill has passed both the Senate and the House. It is currently in the Senate awaiting concurrence of House amendments.

    The first bill, House Bill 206, would stiffen penalties for battery of a school teacher from the present $1,000 fine or imprisonment of not less than two months nor more than six months. The increased penalty would be a fine of not more than $1,000 and a mandatory prison sentence. The prison stay would last from 15 days to not more than six months.

    "Beating a school teacher is a crime that we must take seriously," said Frith. " I earnestly believe in this bill and the safety of Louisiana's school teachers. We have to assure that each student and teacher in the state has a safe learning environment."

   Present law requires any corporation which sells unprocessed beef from a foreign country through grocery stores or meat markets to place a label on the product in a conspicuous place indicating that the meat is from a foreign country. Failing to do so is a misdemeanor and garners a $100 fine. Senate Bill 945 would change the penalties for failing to place the label and take away the misdemeanor charge. According to the bill, failing to properly label foreign beef would be a civil violation requiring a $500 fine. Each day on which a violation occurs would be a separate offense. A penalty hearing would be required to determine if the Louisiana Weights and Measurements Law has been broken before a fine would be levied.

    Frith said, "People need to know what they are buying at the market and what they are putting on their table. Senate Bill 945 is a very important bill for the agriculture industry, especially in my district, because Vermilion Parish is the leading producer of beef in the state."

    Both bills have one more week to get final approval from both houses of the legislature. The 1999 Regular Session ends at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 21.

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