There are three bills sponsored by Kenner Republican Debbie Villio that will gut the 2017 Justice Reinvestment Initiatives and drastically reduce a prisoner’s opportunity for early release. In House Criminal Justice, Villio advocated for House Bill 9 that eliminates parole eligibility for crimes committed after August 1st of this year.
Cut 12 (13) “…a difference.”
Former Gretna Representative Joe Marino attended the hearing to speak against the bill. Marino says eliminating parole and forcing prisoners to serve 85% of their sentence…
Cut 13 (13) “…to want.”
The bill heads to the House floor for more debate.
Governor Jeff Landry signs an executive order that keeps a big property tax break in place for manufacturers, but it removes the job creation requirement that was added during the Edwards’ administration. Landry says the job creation requirement only created bureaucratic red tape.
More than 32 thousand Louisiana high school students enrolled in college courses during the 22-23 school year, making it three years in a row dual enrollment has increased. And Higher Education Commissioner Doctor Kim Hunter Reed says minority student participation has increased over three years by seven percent.
Hunter-Reed says they are committed to dual enrollment opportunities for all students. She points out a virtual instruction program is accessible to students in underpopulated parts of the state.