The Public Affairs Research Council looks at the legislative session and says some was good, some was bad and some was ugly…:
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
_______________________________________________
Louisiana Department of Education is enhancing transparency and accountability by launching a new EPIC (Education Progress and Investment Charts) dashboard to allow citizens to view education outcomes and funding. Teiko Foxx has more…
_______________________________________________
A new act passed by the legislature will make the process of applying for expungement much easier and should be online in 18 months. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 3 (31) “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”
_______________________________________________
The Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) releases its assessment of the 2023 state legislative session and what was accomplished. PAR Louisiana President Steven Procopio says, overall, lawmakers did a responsible job of spending and investing $2-billion in surplus revenue…:
Cut 4 (12) “…retirement debt.’”
Procopio says things got ugly over lifting the state’s cap on expenditures in order to apply the revenue funds. He says one of the uglier aspects of the budget dealings was a last-minute cut of about $100-million from the Department of Health. Procopio says no one understands the huge cut and it seems “odd”…:
Procopio says spending on early childhood education could have been more robust, and more could have been done to reduce the state’s corporate franchise taxes (seen as detrimental to attracting business). He says what was accomplished may be overshadowed by the chaotic ending of the session, and the final budget deal…:
Cut 6 (12) “…problem for transparency.”
PAR’s commentary on the session can be read online at “parlouisiana.org”.
________________________________________________
Louisiana Department of Education boosts its accountability and transparency through a new EPIC (Education Progress and Investment Charts) dashboard. The new tool gives citizens an easier way to view K-12 education progress and finances. Superintendent Cade Brumley says transparency remains the overall commitment.
EPIC allows visitors to view data at the state or school system level ranging from ensuring students enter kindergarten ready to high school graduation. It also provides priority objectives and indicators and also investment summary of types of purchases made with pandemic relief funds. Brumley says it shines light on educational outcomes statewide.
Cut 8 (10) “…local communities’”
Louisiana ranks in the top 10 nationally for education freedom. As part of its Louisiana Comeback plan launched in 2021, the LDOE developed a website for visitors to view their school system’s academic recovery plan and how pandemic relief funds are being budgeted and spent. Brumley encourages Louisianans to visit and to understand how schools operate.
EPIC also gives visitors options to share feedback and download data.
____________________________________________
Because Louisiana has one of the costliest and most cumbersome expungement processes in the US, it inspired legislation to remove application fees and improve communication between various agencies. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis says once upgrades to computer systems are complete it will streamline the process.
Approximately 1.3 million Louisianans could benefit from the passage of the legislation and Duplessis says they estimate the newer process could be up and running in the next year and a half.
Duplessis says eligibility requirements for expungement will not change.
The current process requires a $550 fee. Duplessis says that a even criminal record for nonviolent offenders can prevent them from employment and housing. Many are left with few options and could possibly return to a life of crime.
When some lawmakers questioned the need for the legislation, Duplessis explained that an individual who’s seeking an expungement is not a person who’s looking to commit another crime.
Duplessis says he’s hopeful that once Sheriff’s Offices, Clerks of Courts, District Attorney Offices and State Police will be able to share information with each other that the expungement process will eventually become automatic.
____________________________________________
The last-minute removal of funding for a new Jimmie Davis Bridge over the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier will NOT delay the start of construction. In the final moments of the legislative session, lawmakers removed $140-million for the Davis Bridge from HB2, the budget for annual state facilities and construction expenses. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says funding for the earliest phase of the project is secure, but House & Senate members must revisit the subject next spring…:
Cut 13 (09) “…4-to-5 year project.”
The Jimmie Davis Bridge is in Shreveport Representative Thomas Pressly’s district, and he says the five-year-long, $362-million project may begin on time, but lawmakers cannot overlook its funding one more time…:
Cut 14 (11) “…during next session.”
Some lawmakers from the region say the funds were cut from the bridge project as political payback; punishing those who voted against raising the state’s expenditure cap to accommodate spending surplus revenue. Pressly resists pointing fingers, and says the important news is construction of the new Jimmie Davis Bridge CAN begin on schedule…:
Cut 15 (11) “…back in next year.”
Construction is set to start in early 2024.
___________________________________________________________
After taking yesterday off, the LSU baseball team gets back to work today as they know they are five victories away from a national championship. Coach Jay Johnson says this team has accomplished a lot and he’s excited to see what they can do in Omaha…
It seemed like there was a lot of pressure on Johnson to lead the Tigers to a 19th College World Series appearance, considering the talent he had on his roster. But Johnson says this is not about him, it’s about the players…
LSU’s roster is a good mix of veterans and young players. Freshman Gavin Guidry from Lake Charles was in the mix in the preseason to be the starting second baseman, but he’s been used as a closer out of the bullpen and has saved two games in the postseason and got the final out to send the Tigers to Omaha…
_____________________________________________________